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).
Search By Approval Date:
Clear Filter Total: 5,795
Name Title Nationality Approval Date Expiry Date Field of Science/Classification Trial Type Research Type  
Richard Mallett
ID:
The effects of digital employment on livelihoods, associational life and politics in the urban informal economy: a case study of Kampala’s boda boda sector
REFNo: SS844ES

This proposed research looks at the effects of digital employment on livelihoods, associational life and politics within the urban informal economy – an important area of research lacking serious academic engagement. It aims to do so through an analysis of labour and livelihoods in the motorcycle taxi (or boda boda) sector of Uganda’s capital city, Kampala. Though difficult, dangerous and poorly paid, boda riding nonetheless provides vital work in a context of widespread unemployment, helping a significant share of the urban population make a living in the absence of formal alternatives and safety nets. With the recent arrival of the gig economy, involving app-based motorcycle taxi companies, the nature and organisation of employment in the sector is being reconfigured in uncertain ways and with uncertain effects – testing, amongst other things, the capacity of boda work to absorb urban unemployment. The purpose of the study is to engage critically with the idea that new technologies of employment integrate smoothly and seamlessly into local settings, creating jobs and connecting workers to new economic possibilities in ways that are often perceived to be unproblematic. Instead, it focuses on the challenges that occur as digital innovations come into contact with the urban informal economy, and the unintended consequences that accompany the disruption of people’s livelihoods within it. There are three specific objectives guiding the study, which have been formulated through a review of relevant literature. These are as follows: 1. To examine the effects of digital employment on the livelihoods of riders in Kampala’s boda boda sector 2. To examine the effects of digital employment on the associational and organisational features of work within Kampala’s boda boda sector 3. To examine the effects of digital employment on the relationship between riders in Kampala’s boda boda sector and political actors and processes
UK 2021-07-01 2024-07-01 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Matt Baillie Smith
ID:
Volunteering Together: Blending Knowledge and Skills for Development
REFNo: SS848ES

This research project aims to develop a critical understanding of how different types of volunteers (e.g. community, youth, corporate, national, international and remote volunteers) work together in Uganda. VSO have long carried out their projects using a range of volunteer modalities. They refer to this approach of different types of volunteers working together as “blended volunteering”. The aim of this research is to enhance the understanding of how this “blended approach”, where different types of volunteers work together, can contribute value to the work of VSO Uganda. Beyond that, we expect the research will tell us something about how volunteer modalities may be combined to maximise development impact in other contexts and overall. Furthermore, we will examine relationships between volunteers, primary actors and partner organisations in the field, to capture the wider context within which VSO volunteers work, interact, and deliver development outcomes. Based on our analysis of existing preliminary work as building blocks in this analysis, we have identified significant knowledge gaps in the evidence basis of volunteering and development studies to further explore the concept and practice of blended volunteering: although VSO has observed that blended volunteering can lead to better development outcomes, the exact reason for the impacts of this type of development work remains little understood. Having a fuller understanding of what types of combinations work best, how, when, and why, will not only help VSO deliver higher quality projects and programmes; it will also help them communicate the importance of their development work, and the importance of not just volunteering, but of the particular synergies that emerge when volunteer teams consisting of national, international, and local volunteers with different backgrounds, experiences and skill-sets work together. By ‘volunteer knowledge and skills’ then, we refer not only to individual assets, but also to group assets that emerge from the context in which they work together and the relationships with primary actors and other relevant stakeholders.

Therefore, through this study we aim to better understand: team-focused approaches to volunteering; the programming dimensions of blended volunteering; how different volunteers and primary actors experience blended volunteering approaches; and ‘What works and why’ in the ‘blended volunteering’ model. Furthermore, the research will explore the challenges and obstacles that arise when different types of volunteers and other actors work together, as identified by volunteers, VSO staff and primary actors. This will further help VSO navigate some of these challenges in practice and manage these difficulties as early as the design phase for upcoming projects. This research will thus help VSO develop a deeper understanding on what combination of volunteering and implementation models may be most effective in which specific contexts, and how leveraging these contributions can assist VSO to deliver development impact at scale. This includes understanding the respective strengths and weaknesses of different volunteering modalities in diverse contexts. This presents an opportunity to make a significant contribution to knowledge of volunteering and development, as well as to support innovative programming for ‘blended volunteering’.
 
Based on an extensive literature review and on the experience of VSO Uganda in the field, the general objective of this short-term research project is: To understand how blended volunteering can improve development impacts.
To achieve this objective, we need to understand various areas of the planned and unplanned aspects, outcomes, successes and challenges of VSO’s work. In order to gain a better understanding of this, we divide our main research objective into 4 distinct aims:

(1) Strengthen the evidence base about how combining volunteering modalities has potential to improve programme outcomes (relationships and combinations; impacts);
(2) Deepen understanding of the unique contribution of diverse volunteering modalities, and whether when combined these contribute to enhanced programme outcomes (relationships and combinations; impact);
(3) Understand how the knowledge of diverse volunteering modalities can be designed into VSO programmes to improve outcomes and deliver impact for primary actors (programme design);
(4) Support VSO’s thought leadership by using the findings to influence debates around volunteering and development in policy, practice and academic spaces (impact).

In order to achieve these aims and this main objective, the main research question in this study is the following:
How does different types of volunteers working together improve development impacts?
Our research design is informed by participatory and people-centred approaches and methodologies, as will be described in detail in our methodology section. The study will contribute to policy, practice, and academic understandings in this field by exploring existing examples of blended volunteering contributing to improving development outcomes among VSO Uganda’s portfolio of programmes. Moreover, the study will highlight the potential for further exploring blended volunteering both as a practice and a concept beyond the selected case studies.
 UK 2021-07-01 2024-07-01 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Frank Muhereza Emmanuel
ID:
Civil Society in Uganda: Emerging Perspectives and New Narratives.
REFNo: SS694ES

1. To examine the full extent and implications of the rapid expansion of the civil society sector in Uganda
2. To explore the successful initiatives to strengthen the sector and how best to enhance such initiatives
3. To comprehensively explore the contemporary dynamics of the civil society sector in Uganda, and how much the sector contributes to national development.
Uganda 2021-06-30 2024-06-30 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Mulinde Peterson
ID:
Developing a mobile phones usability and adoption model to promote health among older persons at Kiruddu Hospital
REFNo: HS1305ES

Main Objective
1. To develop a mobile phones’ usability and adoption model for older persons at Kiruddu Hospital.

Specific Objectives
1. To determine key requirements and also investigate the challenges facing mobile phone usability and adoption among older persons at Kiruddu Hospital.
 Uganda 2021-06-30 2024-06-30 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Nixon Niyonzima
ID: UNCST-2020-R014577
 Evaluating Tumor Evolution and the Clinical Utility of Circulating Tumor DNA in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated with Talazoparib
REFNo: HS1476ES

1. Evaluate mutational changes associated with disease progression in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with Talazoparib2. Analyse circulating tumor DNA in blood samples collected from metastatic breast cancer patients treated with Talazoparib.3. Determine the association between circulating tumor DNA levels, CA-15-3 levels, and clinical response in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with Talazoparib.4. Determine the blood-based tumor mutation burden (bTMB) based on WES data generated from samples collected before and after the development of treatment resistance in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with Talazoparib.5. Evaluate the utility of circulating tumor DNA genomic profiling from blood samples collected as dried blood spots from patients with metastatic breast cancer patients and normal age-matched healthy controls.
Uganda 2021-06-30 2024-06-30 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
EDITH  NAKKU-JOLOBA NAKKU
ID: UNCST-2021-R013931
 Sexual Network Based Tracking and Treatment of Gonorrhea and Chlamydial infections to Improve STD Management in Urban and Rural Uganda: A Pilot Study
REFNo: HS1384ES

Specific Objective 1a; To estimate prevalence of Neisseria gonorheae (NG) in persons attending outpatient clinics in Kampala, Uganda.
Specific Objective 1b; To estimate prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in persons attending outpatient clinics in Kampala, Uganda
Specific Objective 2; To describe the sexual networks of persons diagnosed with Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis attending clinics in Kampala, Uganda and the factors influencing these networks.
Specific Objective 3; To describe the bacterial genotypes of infecting Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria identified in these described sexual networks and the related-ness of the bacteria in the identified sexual networks.

 Uganda 2021-06-29 2024-06-29 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Susan  Nabadda
ID: UNCST-2020-R014331
 Diabetes Mellitus Tuberculosis and HIV multimorbidities among adult patients attending Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, Uganda Version 2 7/26/2020.
REFNo: HS1386ES

General Objective
The overall objective of this project is to determine the prevalence of DM among patients with either TB, HIV, and TB-HIV co morbidity. This will help to assess the prevalence of silent DM in these categories of patients.
Specific objectives

1. To describe the prevalence of DM among either TB patients or HIV patients or patients with both TB and HIV co morbidity attending the Kiruddu hospital outpatient clinics
2. To determine the factors associated with DM in patients with HIV alone, TB alone and HIV – TB co-infection.

 Uganda 2021-06-29 2024-06-29 Medical and Health Sciences Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Richard  Ssempala
ID: UNCST-2021-R004837
 Access to Health Care Services in Uganda: The feasible Community health care services delivery model for Uganda.
REFNo: HS1491ES

2. To identify the designs and feasible models for implementing community health care services/ packages in Uganda.,1. To identify the health services/packages provided at community level under the different intervention types.,To review databases of studies that define different delivery mechanisms (models) for the community health services/packages and thereafter recommend a feasible community delivery model(s) for Uganda ,
 Uganda 2021-06-29 2024-06-29 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Teesta Dey
ID:
Systematic development and validation of a Post-Natal Maternal Self-Assessment Tool for predicting post-natal morbidity in the immediate postpartum period following healthcare facility births in Uganda
REFNo: SS876ES

General Objective To develop a valid, reliable, useful and acceptable post-natal maternal self-assessment tool for predicting post-natal morbidity in health care facilities in Uganda Specific Objectives 1. To explore immediate postnatal care provision, coverage and utilisation in healthcare facilities in Uganda and elicit opportunities to improve care 2. To establish the core content of the tool 3. To create a tool that is culture and setting specific to postnatal Ugandan women 4. To assess the tool for validity and reliability 5. To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and usability of the post-natal maternal self-assessment tool For each specific objective there are sub-objectives listed within the protocol as attached
 UK 2021-06-28 2024-06-28 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
David Musoke
ID:
Maximising benefit and minimising the harm of COVID-19 control measures on child and women’s health in Uganda
REFNo: SS881ES

The aim of this research is to assess the negative impact of COVID-19 disease control measures, including lockdown, on child and women’s health in Uganda with diverse pandemic and distinct policy approaches.

Specific objectives
1. Describe the design, evolution and effects of COVID-19 control measures and understand the policies, strategies and measures put in place.
2. Conduct a rapid impact assessment of COVID-19 and its control measures on health systems functioning with a focus on child health and women’s health.
3. Identify interventions, including further research, to optimise COVID-19 control measures.

 Uganda 2021-06-28 2024-06-28 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
View Sort By:

"A prosperous Science and Technology Led Ugandan Society."

NRIMS