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  
Barbara Balikuddembe  Ndagire Balikuddembe
ID:
Dental Practitioners’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Caries Risk Assessment in the Management of Dental Caries in Uganda: A Cross Sectional Study
REFNo: HS1275ES

i. To determine the knowledge of dental practitioners regarding caries risk assessment in the management of dental caries in Kampala metropolitan. ii. To determine the attitudes of dental practitioners regarding caries risk assessment in the management of dental caries in Kampala metropolitan. iii. To determine the practices of dental practitioners regarding caries risk assessment in the management of dental caries in Kampala metropolitan. iv. To explore the training needs of CRA among trainers of dental practitioners in Kampala metropolitan.
Uganda 2021-04-13 2024-04-13 Medical and Health Sciences Degree Award
Victor Musiime
ID: UNCST-2021-R013794
 A randomized Trial to investigate strategies to reduce mortality among HIV-infected and HIV-exposed children admitted with severe acute malnutrition in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
REFNo: HS1277ES

Primary objective
1. To investigate whether empirical use of an antibiotic with greater antimicrobial sensitivity (ceftriaxone) than standard of care (ampicillin plus gentamicin) will reduce mortality among 300 HIV-infected and HEU children admitted with severe acute malnutrition at Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit, Mulago Hospital in a randomised controlled trial.

Secondary objectives
2. To compare the length of hospitalization, weight-for-height, weight-for-age and height-for-age z-scores between ceftriaxone versus standard of care (ampicillin and gentamicin) treatment arms.
3. To ascertain the frequency of different bloodstream bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial sensitivities among HIV-infected and HEU children admitted with severe acute malnutrition at Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit, Mulago Hospital participating in the randomised trial.
4. To ascertain the prevalence of, and factors associated with, HIV-infection among children admitted with severe acute malnutrition at Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit, Mulago Hospital in light of improved PMTCT approaches in a cross-sectional evaluation at admission, among 280 children.
5. To evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of LPV/r among severely malnourished HIV infected children using sparse PK samples. The PK parameter values obtained will then be used in pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) models to determine a possible optimal dose of LPV/r among severely malnourished children, which could then subsequently be evaluated in a clinical trial.

Uganda 2021-04-13 2024-04-13 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Freddy Kitutu Eric
ID: UNCST-2020-R014751
 Exploring access to health care and medicines during COVID-19 in Mukono and Luwero districts: critical challenges and feasible policy options for the medicines retail sector
REFNo: HS1302ES

To describe the practical, policy and political barriers to including pharmacies, drug shops and private clinics in the response to COVID-19 and the means to overcome them.,. To describe how national actors and district officials would like to involve the medicines retail sector in their pandemic planning and action for COVID-19. ,To explore how the medicines retail sector in Uganda could be involved in response to COVID-19 and future outbreaks,To document the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health response on the ability of women and the parents of young children in Uganda to access medicines,To document the effect of the government response to COVID-19 on supply of healthcare services/ care provision by drug shops, pharmacies and private clinics in Uganda,To describe how policy can be adapted to ensure continuity of access to essential medicines and support the involvement of the retail sector in COVID-19 activities during this and future outbreaks,To understand how the public health response to COVID-19 is shaping the supply of and access to treatment in the medicines retail sector in Uganda;,
 Uganda 2021-04-13 2024-04-13 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Irene Mutuku M.
ID:
KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARDS COVID-19 PREVENTION MEASURES AMONG COMMUNITIES AT SELECTED GAZETTED INTERNATIONAL ENTRY-POINTS OF KIGEZI SUB-REGION, UGANDA
REFNo: SS660ES

General objective

To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 prevention measures in communities living at gazetted international entry points of the Kigezi sub-region in Uganda.



Specific objectives
i. To establish the knowledge of the community members in selected gazette international entry points in the Kigezi region regarding measures instituted to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Uganda.

ii. To assess the attitudes of the community members in selected gazetted international entry points in the Kigezi region towards measures instituted to stop the spread of COVID- 19 in Uganda.

iii. To investigate the practices of community members in selected gazetted international entry points in the Kigezi region on measures instituted to stop the spread of COVID- 19 in Uganda.

 Kenya 2021-04-09 2024-04-09 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
NEEMA NAKYANJO -
ID:
Fishing and inland communities – understanding transmission linkages and networks
REFNo: SS698ES

a) To understand the socio-structural context of migration of high risk persons/key populations to and from high HIV prevalence Lake Victoria fishing communities and other geographic areas with high HIV-prevalence
b) To use molecular, social and epidemiological data to identify and elucidate the factors/associations of transmission linkages/networks within key and general population cohorts/groups.
c) To increase our understanding of HIV prevention and care utilization of high risk persons/key populations moving to and from places with high rates of HIV infection
 Uganda 2021-04-09 2024-04-09 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
JULIET MWANGA-AMUMPAIRE
ID: UNCST-2022-R009420
 Impact of malnutrition on pharmacokinetic of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol in TB-HIV co-infected children
REFNo: HS1217ES

Primary Objective
To assess the effect of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) on plasma concentration of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol in children with TB.

Secondary Objectives
1. To assess the effect of HIV-infection and antiretroviral treatment on plasma concentration of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol in children with TB and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
2. To assess whether new WHO-based dosages will achieve rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol drug concentrations above the target therapeutic concentrations in HIV-TB co-infected children with and without SAM
3. To assess the effect of nutritional parameters, HIV-infection, antiretroviral treatment, and other factors (age, liver enzymes, NAT2 status) on PK parameters of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol in HIV-infected children with TB
4. To build a PK/PD relationship between drug concentrations and TB treatment outcomes
5. To assess rifampicin protein binding in relation with malnutrition and albuminemia
6. To derive an optimal dosing algorithm for rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol that will adequately provide optimal exposures to malnourished and HIV infected children

 Uganda 2021-04-09 2024-04-09 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Eva  Laker Odongpiny Agnes
ID: UNCST-2024-R004807
 A Toll-Free Call Intervention to Improve Adverse Events Reporting in Patients On Dolutegravir in Three Health Centers in Kampala, Uganda and a Prospective Cohort Study to Describe Adverse Events to Dolutegravir at the Infectious Diseases Institute (DOLUPHARM)
REFNo: HS1263ES

A) Primary objective (Objective 1)
To determine whether a toll-free phone system for reporting of adverse events by clinicians and patients improves adverse event reporting compared to standard reporting methods using paper based or online forms by clinicians in three health centers initiating/switching patients to DTG between November 2020 and October 2021.

B) Secondary objective (Objective 2)
To determine level of uptake and the experiences of clinicians and patients with using a toll-free phone system for reporting adverse events compared to standard reporting methods using paper based or online forms in three health centers initiating/switching patients to DTG between November 2020 and October 2021

Prospective Cohort Study
A) Primary objective (Objective 3)
To describe the incidence and factors associated with occurrence of different adverse events among patients being switched/initiated on a DTG-based regimen at the IDI.

B) Secondary objective (Objective 4)
To determine whether occurrence of adverse events affects adherence to medications among patients being switched/initiated on a DTG-based regimen at the

Uganda 2021-04-09 2024-04-09 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Miriam Nakalembe
ID: UNCST-2021-R014040
 NEW APPROACHES FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF CERVICAL NEOPLASIA
REFNo: HS1161ES

1. Determine acceptability and accuracy of a low-cost smartphone confocal micro-endoscope imaging technique for the diagnosis of CIN 2+. Confocal images will be compared against gold-standard histopathology to obtain preliminary diagnostic performance characteristics.
2. Compare various cervico-vaginal fluid (CVF) biomarkers to gold-standard histopathology for the diagnosis of CIN 2+. Qualitative and quantitative levels of biomarkers will be compared against gold-standard histopathology to obtain diagnostic performance characteristics.


Uganda 2021-04-08 2024-04-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Susan Tino
ID:
Scale-Up and Capacity Building in Behavioral Science to Improve the Uptake of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services (SupCap)
REFNo: HS1196ES

1. To test if the BSci Package can lead to an increased uptake of modern contraceptive methods improvements in gender norms, an increase in knowledge of contraceptive methods, birth spacing, and childrearing among postpartum women.

2. To find out how we effectively and efficiently replicate and scale up the BSci Package across Eastern Uganda and elsewhere.

 Uganda 2021-04-08 2024-04-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Kamya Moses
ID: UNCST-2020-R014203
 A Multisectoral Strategy to Address Persistent Drivers of the HIV Epidemic in East Africa (SAPPHIRE)
REFNo: HS1239ES

Overall Objective: Our overall objective is to determine to reduce HIV incidence and to improve community health with multi-sector, scalable interventions.

Primary Objective: Reduce HIV incidence using innovative strategies for HIV prevention and treatment to simultaneously reach “persistent driver” populations.

Secondary Objectives:
1. Evaluate and optimize individual intervention component effects, alone (Phase A) and in combination (Phase B), versus control conditions on prevention coverage and HIV viral suppression
2. Assess the effect of the intervention package on other health outcomes (all-cause mortality, tuberculosis, hypertension linkage and control, heavy alcohol use and mother-to-child HIV transmission) in Phase B
3. Evaluate behavioral and other mechanistic pathways for intervention effects on proximal mediators of HIV incidence in Phase B
4. Assess the reach, effectiveness, patient and provider adoption, and fidelity and the maintenance of intervention components in Phase B
5. Use final study data to inform a strategic and sustainable investment model that maximally reduces HIV incidence and improves community health for the combination interventions tested in Phase B

 Uganda 2021-04-08 2024-04-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
CARL CHRISTIAN STECKER CHRISTIAN
ID:
Caregiver-Assisted Oral Fluid-based HIV Screening in Children: Estimation of Acceptability, Feasibility and Effectiveness Linked to Index Testing Services in Uganda.
REFNo: HS1258ES

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of a caregiver-assisted oral fluid based HIV test to screen children for HIV. The results of this study are intended to support expanded access to HIV testing and treatment services for children, and to ensure that all newly diagnosed children are linked to clinical care.

The primary objectives of this study are to:
1. Estimate the acceptability of implementing caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening for children as part of index testing services for HIV-positive adults.
2. Estimate the feasibility of implementing caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening for children as part of index testing services for HIV-positive adults.
3. Estimate the effectiveness of caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening on testing yield, return to clinic, and linkage to ART for newly identified CLHIV.

The secondary objective of the study is to:
Estimate the cost of caregiver-assisted oral fluid-based HIV screening compared to the standard costs of the existing referral to testing program, from the perspective of the health care provider.

 USA 2021-04-08 2024-04-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Leah Pauline
ID:
The Paradox of Being an Adolescent Girl in Uganda During a Global Pandemic
REFNo: SS765ES

My research aims to answer the following
research question and sub-questions:
How do adolescent girls in Uganda navigate the liminal period of COVID-19 when their
educational aspirations of empowerment are put on hold and they face exacerbating
pressures to abide by gender roles/expectations?
Sub-questions:
1- How do high school drop-outs in Uganda differ before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic?
2- What factors influence adolescent girls’ reproductive health and
whether or not they return to school?
3- How do adolescent girls’ future aspirations play a role in their
continuation of schooling?
4- How do adolescent girls interpret peer drop-outs as they navigate their
own decision to continue their education or drop-out?
 USA 2021-04-08 2024-04-08 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Matthew Cooper
ID: UNCST-2021-R013904
 Legacy effects of land-use on tropical soils as constraints on the restoration success and service provision of tropical forests in Uganda
REFNo: NS157ES

The research subject of this project will be the evaluation of soil fertility, soil degradation, C sequestration in both soils and plants, and biodiversity along
tropical secondary forest successions in Western Uganda in three work
packages.
 UK 2021-04-06 2024-04-06 Natural Sciences Degree Award
FRANCIS KIBIRIGE
ID:
Do Legislatures Enhance Democracy in Africa, Uganda Chapter
REFNo: SS774ES

DLEDA Project seeks to understand how parliaments in (selected) African countries fulfill the core functions of parliament. This knowledge will enable DLEDA to answer three major questions, including:

Question 1: Which policy decisions are made in the national assembly?

Question 2: Who are the Members of Parliament (i.e. caliber) and how do they interact with each other?

Question 3: How do MPs represent their constituents and what are the existing mechanisms of political accountability?

 Uganda 2021-04-06 2024-04-06 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Allan Lugaajju
ID:
B-CELLS AND HUMORAL FACTORS MEDIATING MALARIA IMMUNITY IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS
REFNo: HS1267ES

1.To quantify reactive Plasmodium falciparum specific B cell subsets against parasite antigens in children and adults.

2.To functionally characterize anti-Plasmodium falciparum B cell subset downstream responses in children and adults

3.To compare the reactivity and proportions of Plasmodium falciparum specific B cell subsets in children and adults

Uganda 2021-04-06 2024-04-06 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
David Lwanga
ID:
CONFLICTING PRESSURES FOR CHANGE AND INSTITUTIONAL LEGITIMACY IN KAMPALA CAPITAL CITY AUTHORITY, UGANDA.
REFNo: SS780ES

5. To find out the extent to which quantitative results on institution legitimacy of KCCA supports the initial qualitative results.,4. To examine the extent to which the legitimacy of KCCA is a result of harmonizing conflicting pressures for change. ,3. To find out how KCCA dealt with pressures resisting change during the transformation period.,2. To establish the strategic responses that KCCA adopted to attain institutional legitimacy.,1. To establish what institutional pressures influenced the transformation of KCC to KCCA.,To understand how Kampala Capital City Authority attained institutional legitimacy amidst conflicting pressures for change, that is how change initiatives can be positively embraced, hence creating self-reinforcing sequences for institutional legitimacy. ,
 Uganda 2021-04-06 2024-04-06 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Borja Perez-Viana
ID:
Go for It while You Can: On Time Discounting in High-Risk Environments
REFNo: SS448ES

The poor populations of developing countries are extremely exposed to the vagaries of chance, with agricultural output and livelihoods dependent on highly variable weather patterns. Against this background, it is important to better understand how people in developing countries make decisions involving risk and time trade-offs. Our understanding of these decisions is still hampered by a number of issues. For one, decisions under risk and over time have long been treated separately, whereas in reality, they are closely linked. Investigations in developing countries have often focused on exceedingly simple preference measures that are presented in a theoretical vacuum. Likewise, the identification of causal determinants of preferences remains elusive. We propose to overcome these limitations by combining the modelling of preferences and their determinants with bespoke tools to measure preferences and beliefs. We further propose to combine the model-driven measurements with randomised controlled trials (RCTs) varying theoretically identified determinants of preferences to enable us to draw clear causal inferences. Combining such RCTs with a longitudinal design will further allow us to investigate interactions between the randomly allocated interventions and naturally occurring uncertainty. The study will be carried out in collaboration with the Field Lab, a non-for-profit research organisation, based in Mbale.

We divide our proposal into five work packages:

1. Modelling and measuring future uncertainty: The future is inherently uncertain. It is even more so in developing countries. This uncertainty may indeed drive both high levels of risk taking in the present and extreme time discounting. In this first work package, we aim to model this issue explicitly, and to measure the underlying quantities, with particular attention to future uncertainty.

2. Future probabilities are ambiguous: This work package extends the insights obtained in the first work package to explicitly take the uncertainty surrounding future probability estimates into account. The modelling and experimental measurements are further complemented by a randomised variation of the institution delivering the future payouts.

3. Gain, loss, and mixed inter-temporal prospects: In work package three, we propose to extend the theoretical and measurement apparatus deployed in the first two work packages to a full inter-temporal prospect theory model. This is important to model real decisions, which often involve trading off immediate expenditures against uncertain future outcomes.

4. Background risk and behaviour: Starting from a model of the influence of background risk on decisions under risk and over time, we aim to provide crop insurance to randomly selected subsistence farmers in order to shelter them from background risk. This ought to allow us to draw causal inferences on the effect of background risk on preferences and behaviour.

5. Training, aspirations, and locus of control: Taking risks and investing into the future may be mediated by psychological mechanisms such as aspiration levels or locus of control (beliefs on whether one can control one’s destiny). We aim to augment an existing training intervention by motivational elements aimed directly at shifting these psychological mechanisms, to try and nudge preferences and behaviour in desirable directions.
 Spain 2021-03-31 2024-03-31 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Susan  Nabadda
ID: UNCST-2020-R014331
 Surveillance and Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance Programme (Pilot)
REFNo: HS1268ES

Primary

To evaluate AMR incidence through the establishment of a surveillance platform in LMICs based on Pfizer’s Antimicrobial Leadership Testing and Surveillance (ATLAS) core methodology, while facilitating the expansion of surveillance capacity in participating countries.
Secondary.
To strengthen the quality of identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of major bacterial pathogens by the participating laboratories through retesting at a central reference laboratory;
ï‚· To estimate and track the prevalence of resistance phenotypes of major public health importance notably extended spectrum cephalosporin resistance, Carbapenem resistance and MRSA;
ï‚· To generate WGS data that shall be used for epidemiological typing and determining mechanisms of resistance of major resistance phenotypes in participating countries.
 Uganda 2021-03-31 2024-03-31 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Nazarius Tumwesigye Mbona
ID: UNCST-2019-R000664
 A Midline Evaluation for a 5 Year Family Planning Implementation Program: The RISE Project in Uganda
REFNo: HS1296ES

1. Describe the socio-demographic characteristics of men and women of reproductive age living in the seven RISE regions at midway of implementation of RISE programme
2. Assess the program progress from baseline to midline on each of the following program intervention areas
a. men and women’s knowledge of FP services and methods in the project areas
b. men and women’s attitudes towards FP in the project areas
c. FP practices amongst men and women of reproductive age in the project areas
d. the intention to use FP services in future among men and women of reproductive age in the project areas
e. Ability and willingness to pay for FP services among men and women of reproductive age group in the project areas
f. level of exposure to SBCC messages on FP amongst men and women of reproductive age in the project areas
g. status of FP user segments for both men and women of reproductive age in the project areas in terms of Knowledge, attitude, practices, intent to use, exposure
3. Assess the effect of COVID-19 on access of family planning services among men and women of reproductive age living in the seven RISE regions at midway of implementation of RISE programme

 Uganda 2021-03-31 2024-03-31 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Moses Ocan
ID:
Predictors of local emergence and spread of Artemisinin resistance among Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum parasites
REFNo: HS1169ES

(i) To assess the extent of adherence to national malaria treatment guidelines/policy in malaria treatment in private hospitals, private pharmacies and public hospitals in low and high malaria transmission settings in Uganda
(ii) To determine the prevalence of Pfkelch13 gene mutations among P. falciparum parasites in low and high malaria transmission settings in Uganda
(iii) To determine the prevalence of fd (ferredoxin), arps10 (apicomplast ribosomal protein S10) , mdr-2 (multi-drug resistance protein -2) and crt (chloroquine resistance protein) mutations among Plasmodium falciparum parasites in low and high malaria transmission settings in Uganda

 Uganda 2021-03-26 2024-03-26 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
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