Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (a bacterium that causes tuberculosis in humans and animals) has a major impact on public health, animal health, and ecological health in rural Uganda. However, this problem has not received sufficient attention and little investment has been made. In order to control this infection, drinking water quality needs to be improved, sanitation needs to be enhanced, and information on how to allow prevention of infection and spread needs to be disseminated. These are the contents of Clovice Kankya’s doctoral dissertation. He focuses on the socio-anthropological, socio-economic and public health implications of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. He analyzes how local knowledge and beliefs/superstitions influence the attitude of the local population towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, which can be found in the social and economic chapters of the dissertation. High risk factors for people to contract Mycobacterium tuberculosis include drinking unclean water (shared between humans and animals) and living in close proximity to domestic animals. A study of slaughtered animals found that 9.3% of slaughtered pigs had pathological changes in the lymph nodes suggesting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In 3.2% of them, the bound bacilli could be cultured in the laboratory. This suggests that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is widespread in the environment and can be transmitted interactively between humans, domesticated animals and wildlife. The demographic environment of the society and the hygiene practices of the family also have an important influence on the infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The level of knowledge, attitudes, traditional habits, as well as smoking, living in a congregate environment, and using the same water source are all risk factors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the population. Consumption of unclean water and milk, and use of herbal medicines are the main ways in which animals or the environment are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The study found that 65% of the population used herbal medicines, while only 35% used modern medicines to fight Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Ignorance about Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and concomitant HIV infection has also led to social discrimination and injustice against patients in rural communities. Clovice Kankya’s study found widespread non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections in rural Uganda. The aforementioned risk factors make populations and animals in this ecosystem vulnerable to NTM infections. To address this rising population and animal infection, Clovice Kankya advocates a holistic and interdisciplinary approach (“one health, one ecosystem”). Thus, he uses a combination of advanced microbiological and anthropological approaches in his research. He proposes the need for a small, locally located health center in order to treat Mycobacterium bovis infections. And the need to inculcate knowledge about Mycobacterium infections to those in rural areas, which would not only help to reduce infections but also to reduce discrimination and injustice against patients. Another important aim is to reduce the burden on individuals and society due to Mycobacterium infections. Kankya therefore proposes to maintain a good environment, good household hygiene, and improved management of drinking water sources, such as closed pipes for pure water.