Approved Research This page provides a searchable list of all research protocols that have been reviewed and approved by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology(UNCST).
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Name Title Nationality Approval Date Expiry Date Field of Science/Classification Trial Type Research Type  
Shahiid Kiyaga
ID: UNCST-2021-R007055
 Genetic Diversity and Transmission Intensity Heterogeneity of Plasmodium falciparum in Malaria Endemic Regions in Uganda
REFNo: HS5697ES

General Objective
To analyze the genetic diversity of P. falciparum and the heterogeneity in malaria transmission intensity in high-endemic areas of Uganda.
Specific Objectives
1. To assess the genetic diversity and population substructure of P. falciparum in high endemic areas of Uganda by quantifying allelic variation and estimating population structure parameters using F_ST (fixation index) and principal component analysis (PCA).
2. To characterize the heterogeneity in transmission intensity in high endemic areas of Uganda using P. falciparum targeted amplicon genomic data and malaria epidemiological parameters.
3. To develop and apply advanced machine learning models to predict geographical origins of P. falciparum parasites in Uganda using whole-genome sequence data.
 Uganda 2025-03-14 19:14:47 2028-03-14 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Racheal Ninsiima
ID: UNCST-2020-R014564
 Effect of blockchain technology on the performance of barley farmers in eastern Uganda
REFNo: A536ES

i) To determine farmers’ behavioural intention to accept BCT in Uganda’s eastern barley producing region.
ii) To examine the factors that influence adoption and extent of use of BCT among barley farmers in eastern Uganda.
iii) To determine the effect of BCT on barley farmers’ productivity and gross margin in eastern Uganda
iv) To develop suitable BCT implementation framework among barley farmers in eastern Uganda.

 Uganda 2025-03-14 19:13:35 2028-03-14 Agricultural Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Bruce Kirenga J
ID: UNCST-2019-R001460
 SURVEY, SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF HERBAL PRODUCTS USED FOR MALARIA PROPHYLAXIS AND TREATMENT IN UGANDA.
REFNo: HS5468ES

To conduct a survey of herbal medicinal products used for malaria prophylaxis and treatment, evaluate their safety and prophylactic efficacy among school-age children (8-15yrs) in Kibuku district, Uganda.
1. To identify herbal medicinal products used by communities for malaria prophylaxis and treatment in Uganda.
2. To evaluate the artemisinin content of herbal medicinal products used by communities for malaria prophylaxis and treatment in Uganda.
3. To determine the antiplasmodial activity (IC50) of herbal medicinal products used for malaria prophylaxis and treatment in Uganda.
4. To evaluate the safety of herbal medicinal products used for malaria prophylaxis among school age children (8-15 years) in Kibuku district in eastern Uganda.
5. To determine malaria incidence among school age children (8-15 years) receiving selected herbal medicinal products for malaria prophylaxis compared to monthly Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine (DP) in Kibuku district in eastern Uganda.
6. To determine prevalence of parasitaemia among school age children (8-15 years) receiving selected herbal medicinal products for malaria prophylaxis compared to monthly Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine (DP) in Kibuku in eastern Uganda.

 Uganda 2025-03-14 19:08:33 2028-03-14 Medical and Health Sciences Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Irene  Vries de
ID: UNCST-2024-R003372
 A pilot Study for introducing a Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) device (Baby Checker), supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI), in peri-urban UgandaVersion 1.3 August
REFNo: SS3581ES

Objective and Research Questions
The objective of this research is to assess the technical performance and health outcomes resulting from the introduction of the BabyChecker device in peri-urban Uganda. Specifically, the study aims to evaluate its impact on enhancing timely ANC, including routine care and referrals, thereby potentially reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality rates. This evaluation will inform developers and implementers on the effective and responsible deployment of the BabyChecker Point-of-Care Ultrasound Scan (POCUS).

2.1 Research Questions per Component
A. Technical Performance
Health Worker performance research questions:
1. What is the initial scanning performance of health workers by cadre on their first day of using BabyChecker?
2. What is the average scanning performance over the study period for health workers by cadre (e.g., certificate, diploma, degree nurses, midwives, clinical officers)?
3. Is there a correlation between the average scanning performance of health workers and their cadre or years of experience?
4. How much time do health workers require to navigate the BabyChecker application and complete a scan on their first day?
5. What is the average time required by health workers to navigate the BabyChecker application and complete a scan over the study period?
6. How well is the BabyChecker equipment maintained throughout the study period?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) research questions:
1. What is the specificity and sensitivity of BabyChecker's AI in estimating gestational age during the first and second trimesters?
2. What is the specificity and sensitivity of BabyChecker's AI in identifying non-cephalic fetal presentation and low placental localization or placenta previa during the third trimester (36+ weeks)?
B. Health Effectiveness
The hypothesis posits that the introduction of BabyChecker will increase ANC attendance during the first trimester and improve access to imaging services, leading to early detection of risk factors and subsequent referrals. The study focuses on observing changes in ANC attendance, risk factor identification, and referral initiation as direct outcomes of the POCUS intervention.
Health Effectiveness of BabyChecker (AI + Remote Read Results) research questions:
1. Does the introduction of the BabyChecker and other VHE community interventions contribute to an increase in pregnant women first attending ANC during the first trimester?
2. Does the introduction of the BabyChecker and mobilization contribute to an increase in pregnant women that come for the 8th ANC visits?
3. Does the introduction of BabyChecker contribute to an increased overall number of ANC visits?
4. Does the introduction of BabyChecker increase the detection rate of pregnancy risk factors such as multiple pregnancies, placenta previa, breech presentation, or non-longitudinal fetal positions?
5. Does the introduction of BabyChecker increase referrals for multiple pregnancies, placenta previa, breech presentation, or non-longitudinal fetal positions?
6. Do women follow through on referrals, and do these referrals lead to improved health outcomes among women in the private sector?

 Netherlands 2025-03-14 18:58:29 2028-03-14 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Isaac Mugwano
ID: UNCST-2024-R002967
 IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH SEVERE MITRAL STENOSIS UNDERGOING BALLOON MITRAL VALVULOPLASTY (BVM) AT THE UGANDA HEART INSTITUTE.
REFNo: HS5507ES

1. To describe the immediate (post-operative) outcomes of patients who underwent BMV at UHI during the study period.

2. To describe the long term (1 year and 5 year) outcomes of patients with severe mitral stenosis who underwent BMV at Uganda heart institute during the study period.

Uganda 2025-03-14 18:51:15 2028-03-14 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Fiona  Nakabugo Kabuuka
ID: UNCST-2024-R003631
 UTILIZATION AND DETERMINANTS OF HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING SERVICES AMONG YOUTH IN KAWAALA VILLAGE, LUBAGA PARISH, LUBAGA DIVISION
REFNo: HS5339ES

To assess the health-facility determinants influencing the utilization of HIV Testing and Counseling services among youths in Kawaala village, Lubaga Parish, Lubaga Division in May 2024.,To assess the environmental related determinants influencing the utilization of HIV Testing and Counseling services among among youths in Kawaala village, Lubaga Parish, Lubaga Division in May 2024.,To determine the individual determinants influencing the utilization of HIV Testing and Counseling services among youths in Kawaala village, Lubaga Parish, Lubaga Division in May 2024.,To determine the level of utilization of HIV Testing and Counseling services among youths in Kawaala village, Lubaga Parish, Lubaga Division in May 2024.,To assess the utilization and determination of HIV testing and Counseling services youths in Kawaala village, Lubaga Parish, Lubaga Division in Kampala District in May 2024.,
 Uganda 2025-03-14 18:37:36 2028-03-14 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Murezi Mereth
ID: UNCST-2023-R007640
 Effects of Lifestyle and Environmental Change on the Human Epigenome
REFNo: HS5243ES

To advance our understanding of the epigenomic mechanisms that mediate the acclimatization to major transitions in lifestyle and environment to understand how populations adapt, both in the past and in the future.
Characterize how extreme lifestyle and environmental transitions affect patterns of gene regulation.

 Uganda 2025-03-14 18:36:41 2028-03-14 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Joyce Kambugu Balagadde
ID: UNCST-2020-R014996
 International classification, cancer and care: Accounting for the diagnostic potential of low- and middle-income countries
REFNo: SS3561ES

NOTES: The overall project is guided by three research questions, given here with their related objectives. Specific objectives for research activities in Uganda are also described. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 1: What are the “on-the-ground realities” of brain tumour diagnosis and care in Sub-Saharan Africa and how does diagnostic practice in brain tumours differ across the region? OBJECTIVE 1: To develop three detailed empirical case studies of diagnostic work and brain tumour care in Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa that are embedded in understandings of care23, national policy, socio-technical infrastructures, and international classification. OBJECTIVE 2: To compare empirical case studies to develop rich understandings of how practitioners in Sub-Saharan Africa use, refuse, or adapt WHO classifications, or mobilise to establish their own terms of reference. OBJECTIVE 3: To generate critical perspectives on diagnostic value, where diagnosis might not be assumed an essential condition of good care. RESEARCH QUESTION 2: How are the diagnostic contexts of LMICs considered by experts writing international cancer classifications? OBJECTIVE 4: To examine how international cancer classifiers understand diagnostic approaches and infrastructures in LMICs. OBJECTIVE 5: To examine the individual values and institutional principles that guide how classifiers consider these approaches in their decision-making about cancer classification. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 3: How are local medical practitioners, cancer advocates, and international organisations mobilising in a regional network to improve brain tumour outcomes across Sub-Saharan Africa? OBJECTIVE 6: To explore how local medical practitioners, advocates, and international organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa are collaborating in a new professional network, Society for Neuro-Oncology Sub-Saharan Africa (SNOSSA), to improve brain tumour diagnosis and care across Sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE 7: To examine how members understand unity and diversity among Sub-Saharan African countries, and establish common aspirations and strategies concerning diagnosis and classification. OBJECTIVE 8: To explore how members understand their work on a disease which is considered rare, yet its true incidence unknown, and which is de-prioritised in national and international funding. The specific research objective for research conducted in Uganda is to develop a thorough ethnographic understanding of how brain tumour diagnosis happens in practice; how diagnostic work relates to local sociotechnical infrastructure, national policy, and international classification; and how diagnosis relates to care and treatment decision-making.
 Uganda 2025-03-14 18:29:40 2028-03-14 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
ssonko jackson
ID: UNCST-2022-R009683
 SOCIAL SECURITY POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND CLIENTS' SATISFACTION: A CASE OF NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY FUND BENEFICIARIES IN UGANDA .
REFNo: SS2326ES

To investigate the contribution of the Social Security Policy Implementation on NSSF Clients’ Satisfaction in Uganda,To assess the influence of Legal framework for social security on NSSF clients’ satisfaction in Uganda.,To analyze the congruence between of Social Security Policy Implementation andLegal framework for social security with particular reference to NSSF in Uganda,To investigate the contribution of the Social security policy to NSSF clients’ satisfaction. The donation is regarded as mediating the Legal Framework for Community Safety with a particular focus on Kampala and the surrounding areas of Uganda.,
 Uganda 2025-03-14 18:26:08 2028-03-14 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
GWOKYALYA EDITH BAAGALA
ID: UNCST-2023-R005596
 Academic staff workload and Quality management in private chartered universities in Uganda
REFNo: SS3509ES

i. To examine the effect of the academic staff workload on total quality management in Private chartered universities in Uganda.
ii. To evaluate the effect of academic staff workload on faculty development programs in private chartered universities in Uganda.
iii. To examine the effect of faculty development programs on total quality management in Private chartered universities in Uganda.
iv. To assess the mediating effect of faculty development programs in the relationship between academic staff workload and total quality management in Private chartered universities in Uganda

 Uganda 2025-03-14 18:24:15 2028-03-14 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
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