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  
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
Pakoyo Kamba Fadhiru
ID:
Scaling up the Refugees and Host Community’s response towards COVID-19 in Northern Uganda
REFNo: SS755ES

1. To assess the refugee and host communities’ compliance with COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures such as social distancing, hand washing, hand sanitization, use of personal protective equipment, quarantine and notification of cross-border travellers and suspect cases to authorities. 2. To identify community-led initiatives towards COVID-19 infection prevention and control. 3. To build the capacity of refugee settlement and community leaders in COVID-19 infection prevention and control.
Uganda 2021-03-26 2024-03-26 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Shevin  Jacob Thomas
ID:
EVALUATION OF PHARMACOKINETICS, SAFETY AND FEASIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF TWO DOSES OF INTRAVENOUS VITAMIN C COMBINED WITH VITAMIN B1 FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ADULT PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH SEPSIS TO KIRUDDU NATIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL Short Title: RANDOMISED EVALUATION OF A VITAMIN C BUNDLE FOR SEPSIS TREATMENT IN AFRICA (REVISTA-DOSE)
REFNo: HS1236ES

General objective: In the future REVISTA-RCT, we intend to evaluate the components of a metabolic bundle comprising vitamin C, vitamin B1, and corticosteroids in order to determine if a combined effect of the bundle has greater efficacy (than bundle components or placebo) in decreasing 28-day mortality due to sepsis in adult patients in SSA. In preparation for the RCT, we intend to utilize the REVISTA-DOSE study to answer key questions about optimal dosing and safety for intravenous vitamin C (in combination with vitamin B1) in patients hospitalized with adult sepsis in two Ugandan referral hospitals. Primary objectives: 1. Describe the dose-plasma concentration response from two different doses of intravenous vitamin C (in combination with vitamin B1) Secondary objectives: 1. Evaluate the safety and tolerability of intravenous vitamin C (in combination with vitamin B1) in adult medical patients with sepsis in Uganda 2. Assess the enrolment rates, adherence to protocol and feasibility of conducting an RCT in patients with sepsis within the ARCS cohort of patients Exploratory objectives: 1. Evaluate association of vitamin C and vitamin B1 levels on clinical parameters/markers, including those for: a. Disease severity: shock; lactate clearance; qSOFA score; ability to stand unaided b. Inflammation, infection: Procalcitonin c. Organ/metabolic function, including: renal function d. Adverse events: hemolysis; oxaluria e. Outcomes: re-hospitalization frequency; length of hospitalization; 6 or 7 and 28d morbidity and mortality
USA 2021-03-26 2024-03-26 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Barbara Mukasa
ID:
Evaluating the Glycemic Effects of Dolutegravir (DTG) Among Patients Receiving Dolutegravir Based Regimens at Mildmay Uganda ART sites : A Prospective Cohort Study
REFNo: HS1273ES

1.To determine the incidence of hyperglycaemia among patients receiving DTG based regimen at Mildmay Uganda supported sites. 2.To determine the association between previous NRTI or NRTtI exposure and the incidence of hyperglycemia among patients on TLD.
3.Evaluate predictors of hyperglycaemia among patients on TLD. 4.Describe other adverse events reported by study participants during the study period.
Uganda 2021-03-26 2024-03-26 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Agnes Kiragga
ID:
Community Pharmacies for Assessing STI Prevalence using Point of Care diagnostics study (COPHAS)
REFNo: HS1274ES

Aim 1: To estimate the prevalence of curable STIs and HIV among persons accessing health services at community pharmacies in Kampala and Wakiso Districts.

Aim 2: To determine the feasibility and uptake of pharmacy-based specimen collection and POC testing for curable STIs and HIV among persons seeking health care services at community pharmacies in Kampala and Wakiso Districts. Uptake will be measured among the three groups of persons i.e. Persons seeking EC (group 1), clients with STI symptoms (group 2) and persons without STI symptoms (group 3)
Secondary quantitative aims:
Aim 3: To determine treatment completion among persons diagnosed with an STI at the community pharmacies in Kampala and Wakiso Districts.

Aim 4: To determine linkage to care and ART initiation among newly diagnosed HIV positive persons at the community pharmacies in Kampala and Wakiso Districts.

Aim 5: To determine the baseline and 3-month knowledge about STI and STI treatment guidelines, and principles of antimicrobial stewardship of pharmacy staff. In addition, to assess the acceptability of POC STI diagnostics collocated with the pharmacy, to pharmacy owners and staff.

Qualitative aims
Aim 6: To assess the acceptability and client satisfaction of STI and HIV testing at community pharmacies in Kampala and Wakiso Districts.

Partner notification sub-study
Aim 7: To determine the effect of technology-supported partner notification and treatment initiation using Call for LifeTM technology among persons diagnosed with an STI or HIV at community pharmacies.


 Uganda 2021-03-26 2024-03-26 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Moses Adriko
ID: UNCST-2019-R001787
 Information and Evidence Rapid Needs Assessment for COVID-19 in Uganda
REFNo: HS1285ES

A rapid needs assessment gives insights about the dissemination and utilisation of information and evidence related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by individuals engaged at various levels of public health. The use of timely and accurate information about COVID-19 by public health workers will help to support the population in risk reduction through community education and the adoption of protective behaviours. As the outbreak progresses, it is important to understand: how health workers are getting their information (the sources); if the dissemination of official guidance is received, how it is perceived, and if it is followed; and the gaps in information and evidence at the subnational level; identify needs related to community and health facility COVID-19 information materials. Developing an understanding of and monitoring these issues will increase the use of timely and accurate information, and ultimately improve the dissemination of timely and accurate information to the population. The objectives of the project are as follows:
(1) To understand the different sources of information used by health workers in decision making on COVID-19.
(2) To identify the gaps in the dissemination of accurate information in the management of COVID-19 in Uganda.
(3) To improve the dissemination of timely and accurate information to the population about COVID-19 in Uganda.

 Uganda 2021-03-26 2024-03-26 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Peter Olupot-Olupot
ID:
H-PRIME Hydroxyurea - Pragmatic Reduction In Mortality and Economic burden
REFNo: HS818ES

TRIAL OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the trial is to identify pragmatic, effective, safe and acceptable interventions to reduce short and longer-term mortality and morbidity in children with SCD in sub-Saharan Africa. There are three hypotheses being tested

1. [Randomisation, R1] Daily oral hydroxyurea at a fixed weight-band based dose given with clinically driven (rather than routine scheduled) laboratory monitoring, without titrating doses to the MTD, will reduce all-cause mortality compared with placebo
2. [R2] Enhanced antimalarial prophylaxis will reduce malaria-associated hospitalisation vs standard of care (SOC) (open-label)
3. [R3] Enhanced antimicrobial prophylaxis will reduce all-cause hospitalisation vs SOC (open-label)

Secondary objectives include
 To determine the efficacy of the strategies above on other measures of morbidity
 To determine the safety and tolerability of the strategies above
 To identify the most cost-effective interventions to reduce mortality and morbidity, and assess their budget impact
 To investigate the cardiac safety of DHA-PQP in children with sickle cell disease
 To investigate the resistance patterns of malaria parasites acquired by children on different forms of malaria prophylaxis

 Uganda 2021-03-24 2024-03-24 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Emmanuel Bizimungu
ID:
The role of incentives for adoption of climate-smart agricultural innovations: An experimental evaluation in Uganda
REFNo: SS502ES

The main objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the incentives for the adoption of Climate-smart Agricultural (CSA) innovations, and ensuing impacts on farming systems resilience and household welfare, and examine the effects of weather, market, and payment uncertainties on investments in CSA innovations.

Specifically, this research will:
1. Assess the effects of different bundles of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ incentives on adoption intensity of climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies;

2. Determine smallholders’ behavioral responses to shocks and examine the extent to which uncertainties regarding weather, market and, timing of payment influence smallholders’ decisions to invest in inputs with/without incentives;

3. Analyze the effects of CSA adoption for intra-household decision-making;

4. Assess the impacts of CSA practices and technologies on farming systems’ resilience, factor productivity, revenues, income and, nutrition.

 Uganda 2021-03-24 2024-03-24 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
EVA NATUKUNDA
ID: UNCST-2020-R014330
 Safety of alternative second- line anti-retroviral drugs in HIV- infected children living in Uganda and Zimbabwe
REFNo: HS1071ES

1. To evaluate the renal and bone adverse events associated with TAF when compared to ABC or ZDV among HIV infected children on second line ART
2. To evaluate the effect of TAF on BMD and turnover markers compared with ZDV or ABC among HIV infected children on second line ART.

3. To evaluate the effect of ritonavir boosted Atazanavir (ATV/r), Darunavir (DRV/r), Lopinavir (LPV/r) and DTG based regimens on lipid profiles and body fat distribution.
4. To determine the prevalence and baseline characteristics associated with low BMD among children starting second- line ART in Uganda.
5. To determine the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of the QUA compared with DXA scan in measuring BMD among HIV infected children on second line ART.


 Uganda 2021-03-24 2024-03-24 Medical and Health Sciences Degree Award
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