Turning African medical device ideas into safe, market‑ready products.

CITE at Makerere University supports innovators in Uganda and across Africa with device design, regulatory strategy, ISO‑ready quality systems, and pathways to CE Mark and local approvals.

Ideal for start‑ups, clinicians, hospitals, manufacturers and partners building context‑appropriate medical technologies for African health systems.

What we do

Core service pillars for African medical device innovators.

Modular support across design, regulation, quality and testing – pick what you need now and grow into the full pathway as your device matures.

Design & Engineering

Medical device design & prototyping

Human‑centred design, CAD, prototyping and verification planning that reflects African clinical workflows, infrastructure, and cost realities.

Outputs: design inputs & specs, CAD models, early risk file, prototype test plans.

Regulation

Regulatory strategy & CE Mark support

Device classification, regulatory pathway mapping for Uganda, African NRAs and EU MDR, plus technical file preparation and notified‑body navigation.

Outputs: regulatory roadmap, standards list, CE Mark action plan.

Documentation

Technical files, DHF & manuals

Structured technical documentation, design history files, user manuals, IFUs and servicing guides written for real‑world African users.

Outputs: technical file sections, DHF structure, draft manuals and labelling content.

Risk

Risk management (ISO 14971)

Hazard identification, FMEA, risk control and residual‑risk evaluation integrated into your design controls and post‑market plans.

Outputs: risk management plan, hazard analyses, risk reports.

Quality

QMS & ISO 13485 systems

Lean, right‑sized quality management systems for labs, SMEs and manufacturers aiming for ISO 13485 and MDR‑aligned processes.

Outputs: QMS blueprint, core SOPs, audit preparation checklist.

Testing & Training

Testing, validation & capability building

Guidance on bench, safety and usability testing, plus tailored trainings in design, regulation, risk and QMS for African teams.

Outputs: test plans, partner lab referrals, course outlines and certificates of participation.

How we work

A clear pathway from idea to implementation.

Engage at any stage – from early concept sketches to regulatory submissions and manufacturing transfer.

Step 01 Discover

We map your device concept, context of use, and constraints to identify the right mix of design, regulatory and quality actions.

Step 02 Design

Translate needs into design inputs, develop prototypes, and embed usability and risk thinking from the start.

Step 03 De‑risk

Implement ISO 14971, design controls and QMS building blocks while drafting technical documentation.

Step 04 Demonstrate

Support testing, pilot deployments and submissions to regulators or notified bodies as required.

Step 05 Deploy & scale

Plan for manufacturing transfer, post‑market surveillance and continuous improvement in African settings.

Innovators & projects

Built around real African use‑cases.

CITE works with start‑ups, clinicians, hospitals, universities, and manufacturers building solutions for theatres, ICUs, maternity wards, labs and beyond.

For early‑stage innovators

You have a concept, sketch or basic prototype and need help turning it into a robust, testable medical device aligned with regulatory expectations.

  • Problem framing & design inputs
  • Prototype refinement and basic testing
  • Introductory risk & regulatory guidance

For growing start‑ups & manufacturers

You need structured documentation, QMS processes, and clear regulatory pathways to move into pilots, registration and larger‑scale production.

  • ISO‑aligned QMS and SOPs
  • Technical & design history files
  • Regulatory submissions and CE Mark support
Typical collaborators: Clinicians & hospital teams University labs & hubs Fabricators & manufacturers NGOs & health programmes
Resources

Practical tools & learning pathways.

Simple, high‑impact guides and templates that help African teams start building compliant processes before engaging expensive external consultants.

Intro to medical device regulation in Uganda

A short guide to classification, basic requirements, and where NDA, UNBS and other agencies fit.

Coming soon – downloadable brief.

Lean ISO 13485 starter pack

Key SOPs and records small teams can adopt quickly to move towards an audit‑ready QMS.

Coming soon – SOP skeletons & checklists.

Risk & technical file templates

Outline structures for risk management plans, hazard logs and technical file contents.

Coming soon – editable templates.

About CITE

An African hub for design, regulation and translation.

Based at Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Kampala, CITE connects engineers, clinicians, regulators and manufacturers to grow an end‑to‑end medical device pipeline in Africa.

Mission

To enable safe, affordable, context‑appropriate medical devices to be designed, evaluated, certified and manufactured on the African continent.

  • Strengthen local engineering & regulatory capacity
  • Support innovators through the full product lifecycle
  • Link research, clinical practice and manufacturing

Partners & ecosystem

CITE collaborates with universities, hospitals, regulators, manufacturers and development partners across Uganda, Africa and globally.

Makerere University & teaching hospitals National regulatory & standards bodies African & global universities Local manufacturers & fabricators

Ready to move your device forward?

Share a brief description of your device, its stage, and what you need help with. The CITE team will propose a tailored support pathway.

Email the CITE team

Contact details

Email: info@example-cite.ug
Phone / WhatsApp: +256 XXX XXX XXX
Location: CITE, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Typical enquiry info

When you contact us, it helps to include:

  • A short description of your device or idea
  • Where it will be used (e.g. theatre, ICU, maternity, lab)
  • Your current stage (concept, prototype, pilot, etc.)
  • Key questions around design, regulation or quality