Dr. Ainamani Elvis Herbert

Senior Lecturer - Clinical Psychology

Dr Herbert Elvis Ainamani (PhD) is a senior lecturer in the department of Mental Health-School of Medicine- Kabale University- Uganda. Prior to joining Kabale University, Herbert was a senior lecturer at Bishop Stuart University-Mbarara Uganda and the Head of department of Psychology. While at Bishop Stuart University, He was also a research fellow (MADRI) in the department of Psychiatry at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)-Uganda.

Herbert earned his PhD from MUST under the mentorship of Prof Dr Thomas Elbert of the University of Konstanz-Germany. He also holds MA in Counselling Psychology and a BA  from Uganda Christian University. Herbert also obtained an Advanced Diploma in  Child and Adolescent Mental Health from MUST.

Herbert’s doctoral research project focused on trauma- related mental health disorders with a special focus on Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive domains of (working memory and executive functions) and appetitive aggression among the refugees living in Uganda.

During his doctoral studies, Herbert gained extensive experience in the area of Psycho-traumatology as he worked closely with Prof Dr Thomas Elbert and his team at the University of Konstanz including participating in research and training in psychological treatment within conflict and post conflict communities such as those in Burundi, Northern Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During this time, Herbert also trained in Narrative- Exposure Therapy (NET-KIDNET)- a Psychological treatment intervention for traumatised children and adults.

Herbert has practical experiences on the provision of psychological treatment and clinical research among the refugees/general community and children/adolescents using various psychological interventions and standardised clinical assessment tools.

Herbert is a post-doctoral IMMANA Fellow (Tufts University, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) where He closely examined the intersection between agriculture(gardening), nutrition and mental health problems among people/ family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementia (ADRD).

Herbert is also a Social Science Research Council Fellow (PhD completion) and a winner of African –German young researchers award of African Mental Health Foundation.

Herbert has vast international travel experiences and speaking to international audiences in Uganda, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Ghana, USA and Germany.

Herbert has recently been awarded a 2023 International Presidential Visiting fellowship at the University of Regensburg in Germany.

Qualifications

  • PhD
  • MA. Counselling Psychology
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Diploma in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Research Interests

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Publications

Herbert Ainamani . (2023) . Gender differences in substance use and associated factors among urban refugees in Uganda . EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTRAUMATOLOGY2023, ., 14, pp. NO 2238583VOL. 14
Denis Nono, Nolbert Gumisiriza, Christopher Tumwine , Luis Amaral, Herbert E. Ainamani, Seggane Musisi, Robert Colebunder . (2022) . Impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of children with epilepsy including Nodding Syndrome in Uganda: A qualitative study . Epilepsy & Behavior
Anne T. Otwine, Leonsio Matagi, John M. Kiweewa, Herbert E. Ainamaani . (2022) . Efficacy of career guidance and counselling among secondary schools in Uganda
Herbert E. Ainamani , Nolbert Gumisiriza, Wilson M. Bamwerinde c, Godfrey Z. Rukundo . (2022) . Gardening activity and its relationship to mental health: Understudied and untapped in low-and middle-income countries . Preventive Medicine
Edmond Kabyemera, Herbert Ainamani, Topher Byamukama . (2022) . Factors affecting male involvement in the uptake of maternal and child health services in Ndorwa County West, Kabale district . International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, [online] Volume 9(4). Available at: https://www.ijcmph.com/index.php/ijcmph/article/view/9375
Herbert E. Ainamania, Roland Weierstall-Pustb, Ronald Bahatic, Anne Otwinec, Sam Tumwesigired and Godfrey Z. Rukundoe . (2021) . Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and the associated factors among children and adolescents with a history of maltreatment in Uganda . EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTRAUMATOLOGY
Herbert E. Ainamani *, Wilson M. Bamwerinde, Godfrey Z. Rukundo, Sam Tumwesigire, Valence Mfitumukiza, Everd M. Bikaitwoha d, Alexander C. Tsai . (2021) . Fruit and vegetable intake and mental health among family caregivers of people with dementia in Uganda . Mental Health & Prevention, 10
Herbert E. Ainamani a, *, Wilson M. Bamwerinde b, Godfrey Z. Rukundo c, Sam Tumwesigire d, Rebecca M. Kalibwani e, Evard M. Bikaitwaho f, Alexander C. Tsai c, g . (2021) . Participation in gardening activity and its association with improved mental health among family caregivers of people with dementia in rural Uganda . Preventive Medicine Reports(23)
Herbert E. Ainamani, Godfrey Z. Rukundo, Timothy Nduhukire, Eunice Ndyareba & Tobias Hecker . (2021) . Child maltreatment, cognitive functions and the mediating role of mental health problems among maltreated children and adolescents in Uganda . Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, [online] Volume . Available at: https://capmh.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13034-021-00373-7
Ainamani, H. E., Gumisiriza, N., & Rukundo, G. Z. . (2020) . Mental health problems related to COVID-19: A call for psychosocial interventions in Uganda. . Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Herbert E Ainamani, Paul E Alele, Godfrey Z Rukundo,2 Samuel Maling, Edith K Wakida, Celestino Obua, and Alexander C Tsai . (2020) . Caring for people with dementia in rural Uganda: qualitative study of caregiving burden experienced by informal and formal caregivers . Journal of Global Health Reports, -4
Ainamani HE, Alele PE, Rukundo GZ, Maling S, Wakida EK, Obua C, Tsai AC (2020) . (2020) . Caregiving burden and mental health problems among family caregivers of people with dementia in rural Uganda . Global Mental Health
Herbert E. Ainamani*, Thomas Elbert, , David Kani Olema, and Tobias Hecker . (2020) . Gender differences in response to warrelated trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder – a study among the Congolese refugees in Uganda . BMC Psychiatry
Henning Budde, Davin P. Akko, Herbert E. Ainamani, Eric Murillo-Rodríguez & Roland Weierstall . (2018) . The impact of an exercise training intervention on cortisol levels and post-traumatic stress disorder in juveniles from an Ugandan refugee settlement: study protocol for a randomized control trial . BMC-TRIALS
Tobias Hecker, Herbert E. Ainamani, Katharin Hermenau, Eva Haefele and Thomas Elbert . (2017) . Exploring the Potential Distinction Between Continuous Traumatic Stress and Posttraumatic Stress in an East African Refugee Sample . ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Herbert E. Ainamani, Thomas Elbert, David Olema, Tobias Hecker, . (2017) . PTSD symptom severity relates to cognitive and psycho-social dysfunctioning – a study with Congolese refugees in Uganda . European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Tobias Hecker, Simon Fetz Herbert Ainamani, and Thomas Elbert2, . (2015) . The Cycle of Violence: Associations Between Exposure to Violence, Trauma-Related Symptoms and Aggression—Findings from Congolese Refugees in Uganda . Traumatic Stress

Projects

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Supervision

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Presentations

International conferences/speaking engagements and workshops attended.

  •  August 2022: Global leadership Summit ( Chicago IL, US)
  • June 2017. Presented paper on “PTSD symptom severity relates to cognitive and psycho-social dysfunctioning – a study with Congolese refugees in Uganda: in an international conference organized by society of neuroscientists of Africa
  • May 2017.Presented on “Raising Orphans Without Stigma “at a conference organized by a Christian alliance for orphans in Nashville TN USA
  • April 2017. Speaking to the Psychology classes and faculty on Psychological treatment of refugees in the context of a refugee camp at Bradly University Peoria IL USA.
  • April 2017: Speaking to the Psychology classes and faculty on Psychological treatment of refugees in the context of a refugee camp setting at Geneva College Pittsburg Pennsylvania USA.
  • February 24 – 26, 2016. Attended and presented at a German-African Research Workshop for innovations in African healthcare Systems, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 2015.Attended and presented in the Psycho Trauma Conference (PCAF) Nairobi2014.
  • 2014. Research methods -University of Ghana Accra (One week Organized by social science research council-Next generation for social science in Africa).
  • 2014.Presentation of preliminary doctoral research findings in weekly meetings at the University of Konstanz-Germany (center for psycho-traumatology).
  • 2012 Feb. Presentation of doctoral proposal in weekly meetings at the University of Konstanz-Germany (center for psycho-traumatology).

More Information

Submitted (Manuscripts)

  • Ainamani et al., Prevalence and associated factors of depression and PTSD among school going vulnerable children and adolescents in southwestern Uganda (under review -journal of comprehensive psychiatry)
  • Ainamani, HE, Gumisiriza N &Rukundo GZ: Mental Health Problems related to COVID-19: A call for Research and psycho-social Interventions in Uganda (Under review -Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy)
  •  Bahati R., Herbert Ainamani Cathy Sigmund and Godfrey Rukundo. Association between stigma and depression among urban refugees in Mbarara Municipality, Southwestern Uganda (Submitted to BMC Psychiatry)

Additional Relevant Trainings

  • Certificate in responsible conduct of human research(online) Massachusetts General Hospital: 2018:
  • Certificate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Massachusetts General Hospital-USA :2018
  • Certificate Narrative exposure therapy for Trauma therapists -2013 -University of Konstanz-VIVO International
  • Certificate in HIV Testing and Counselling Training -2018-AIDS INFORMATION CENTRE
  • Teaching, research focus and clinical services.