Busitema Visiting Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa Honoured with Prestigious Hamilton Naki Award
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<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/media/leading-researchers/prof-motlalepula-matsab… style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Prof. Motlalepula Matsabisa</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">, Visiting Professor of Pharmacology at </span><a href="https://www.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Busitema University</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">, has received the prestigious Hamilton Naki Award from South Africa’s </span><a href="https://www.nrf.ac.za/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">National Research Foundation</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;"> in recognition of his contributions to African traditional medicine research and pharmacology.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Presented during the </span><a href="https://www.nrf.ac.za/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">National Research Foundation</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;"> Awards on 3 September 2026, the Hamilton Naki Award recognises researchers who have achieved world-class scientific performance while advancing their careers despite significant challenges.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/media/leading-researchers/prof-motlalepula-matsab… style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Prof. Matsabisa</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">’s recognition reflects a research journey that has helped strengthen the scientific study of African traditional medicine. His work examines the safety, efficacy and quality of traditional and herbal medicines and extends into pharmacology, natural product drug discovery, pharmaceutical development and clinical research.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">His achievement carries particular significance for </span><a href="https://www.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Busitema University</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">, where he serves as a Visiting Professor of Pharmacology and maintains a close academic connection with the </span><a href="https://bunapric.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Natural Products Research and Innovation Centre (NaPRiC)</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">. The relationship supports collaboration in natural products research, drug discovery and the advancement of African medicinal knowledge through evidence-based science.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/media/leading-researchers/prof-motlalepula-matsab… style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Prof. Matsabisa</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">’s role at </span><a href="https://www.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Busitema University</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;"> is grounded in active academic and research collaboration, particularly in areas where the </span><a href="https://www.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">University</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;"> is strengthening capacity in the scientific validation and development of natural products and traditional medicines. This shared research interest creates opportunities for deeper collaboration, mentorship and exchange of expertise between </span><a href="https://www.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Busitema University</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;"> and other institutions working in the field.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/media/leading-researchers/prof-motlalepula-matsab… style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Prof. Matsabisa</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">’s work also reaches beyond the university setting into international efforts to strengthen traditional medicine research and policy. Through his engagement with the </span><a href="https://www.who.int/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">World Health Organization</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">’s </span><a href="https://www.who.int/groups/strategic-and-technical-advisory-group-on-tr… style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">, he has contributed to broader discussions on the scientific development, regulation and responsible use of traditional medicines.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Reflecting on the recognition, </span><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/media/leading-researchers/prof-motlalepula-matsab… style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Prof. Matsabisa</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;"> described the award as representing “success against all odds”, a message that captures the persistence required to pursue rigorous traditional medicine research in a field that has historically faced considerable scepticism.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">That journey resonates strongly with </span><a href="https://bunapric.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">NaPRiC</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">’s work at </span><a href="https://www.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Busitema University</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">, where research seeks to bring indigenous medicinal knowledge into closer conversation with modern scientific methods and translate promising natural products into safe, effective and quality health innovations.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="text-align-justify MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">The Hamilton Naki Award adds another significant recognition to </span><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/media/leading-researchers/prof-motlalepula-matsab… style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Prof. Matsabisa</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">’s career while drawing attention to the value of the academic partnerships through which </span><a href="https://www.busitema.ac.ug/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Busitema University</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;"> continues to strengthen research in pharmacology, natural products and traditional medicine.</span><p></p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Learn more about </span><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/media/leading-researchers/prof-motlalepula-matsab… style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Prof. Matsabisa</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">’s Hamilton Naki Award and research through the </span><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">University of the Free State</span></a><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">:</span><br /><a href="https://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/news-archive/campus-news/2026/september…; target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Read the University of the Free State story</span></a><p></p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">You can also explore the work of Busitema University’s Natural Products Research and Innovation Centre (NaPRiC):</span><br /><a href="https://bunapric.busitema.ac.ug/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Visit NaPRiC</span></a><p></p></p>