SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
The Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy is one of the departments in the School of Pharmacy. It was formally established in 2021. It comprises two subjects namely Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy. Medicinal Chemistry is organized into four Courses each of which is taught in one of the semesters every year. These Courses are General Chemistry, Organic chemistry, Chemotherapeutic agents, and Pharmacodynamic agents which are taught in the semester I, semester IV, semester VI, and semester VII respectively. Most of the medicines that are studied in pharmacy are made from chemical substances. A student of pharmacy needs to have a good knowledge of chemistry to be able to comprehend the chemical nature of medicines and be able to understand how these substances will interact with cellular components of the body.
General chemistry aims at providing students with a sound knowledge of general, physical, inorganic, and aliphatic chemistry, including practical aspects. The organic Chemistry Course equips students with basic knowledge of aromatic, heterocyclic, and stereochemistry. To introduce students to the science of spectroscopy as applied in organic Qualitative and Quantitative analysis. Moreover, the chemotherapeutic agents Course equips students with adequate knowledge and skills in drug quality assurance, drug development, and the chemistry of drugs used in the management of infectious diseases and malignancies. Lastly, the pharmacodynamic agents Course will equip students with the chemistry of drugs used for the management of non-infectious diseases.
Dr. Ambrose Francis Haule is a registered Pharmacist and a Senior Lecturer at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences at Bugando (CUHAS-Bugando). He obtained a Master of Science in Pharmacy degree in 1979 at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and a Ph.D. degree in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Sunderland in England in 1989.
He joined CUHAS in 2014 as a Senior Lecturer. Before his joining CUHAS, Dr. Haule did his internship at the then-Muhimbili Medical Centre (now Muhimbili National Hospital) in 1980 and joined the academic staff at the then Faculty of Medicine of the University of Dar es Salaam, now the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the following year., and worked there until 2014 when he joined CUHAS. At MUHAS he had the opportunity to be appointed the positions of Head of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy on two occasions, Associate Dean of the School, and later Dean of Students of the University. During his time at MUHAS, he also did a term as Vice President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Tanzania (PST) and later as President of the Society.
Currently, he functions as a standards consultant, playing the role of Chairman of the Tanzania Bureau of Standards Technical Committee on Soaps and Detergents, Chairman of the East African Standards Technical Harmonizing Committee on Soaps and Detergents, and a member of the African Region Standards Organization (ARSO).
Ms.Lutugera Kihwili is a Pharmacist and Tutorial Assistant in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy of the School of Pharmacy at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences. I am interested in the natural sciences.
Ms. Adelina Thomas is a Pharmacist and Tutorial Assistant in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy of the School of Pharmacy at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences. Currently pursuing masters of Science in pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine Sciences at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. She is interested in Phytochemistry, and toxicity studies of herbal medicine.
Ms. Tekla Joseph is a Health Scientist in the Department of pharmacognosy at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS). She Studied a Bachelor of Sciences in Botanical Sciences at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), from 2015-2018. She joined CUHAS in September 2019 as a volunteer and in February 2020 as a Health scientist (Botanist). Her main interests conduct more research on medicinal plants by ensuring the CUHAS is among the university with Herbarium and botanical garden in Tanzania for herbal /medicinal research.
Raphael Matinde is a registered pharmacist and an assistant lecturer of Medicinal Chemistry at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS-Bugando). He graduated from CUHAS with a Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2015. He joined CUHAS as a tutorial assistant in 2016. Before his appointment at CUHAS, he had completed an internship at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC). He then pursued a Master’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is the first CUHAS staff development beneficiary in the Medicinal Chemistry specialty. His major interests are teaching, research in areas of Drug discovery and development as well as quality analysis of pharmaceutical products, and mentoring.
Tanga Yango Mafuru is a registered Pharmacist and Assistant Lecturer at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS). He did a bachelor of Pharmacy (2014-2018) at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (Mwanza, TANZANIA). He joined CUHAS in February 2020 as Tutorial Assistant. Before his appointment at CUHAS, he conducted an internship at the Pharmacy Council of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam in 2019 after completing his Pharmacy degree. He then pursued a Master’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. He aims at being part of fulfilling CUHAS vision reinforced and motivated by his interest in teaching and researching.
Mr. Eugene Ernest Mutagwaba is a Health Laboratory Scientist at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences in Mwanza, Tanzania. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research on a comparative study of the larvicidal activity of essential oils of stalks and leaves of the lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon citratus) against mosquito larvae.
Dr. Ambrose Haule
Mr.Raphael Matinde,
Ms.Lutugera Kihwili 
Ms. Adeline Thomas B.Pharm(CUHAS),
Ms. Ms.Tekla M Joseph 
Mr.Eugene E Mutagwaba
Mr.Tanga Yango Mafuru