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  
Phionah  Ssemambo Kibalama
ID: UNCST-2025-R018119
 COMPASS: Community Perspectives and Behavior Change Strategies for Integrated Long-Acting Reversible Contraception and Long-Acting Injectable PrEP Roll Out for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda
REFNo: HS6232ES

The overall objective of this study is to enhance the adoption and utilization of integrated LARC and LAI-PrEP services among AGYW in Uganda by understanding their preferences, willingness to use these services, and the influencing perceptions, practices, and norms of key stakeholders.

Primary objectives:
1. Determine preferences and willingness to use LARC and LAI-PrEP by AGYW in Uganda.
2. Characterize stakeholder perceptions, practices, and norms that may influence the adoption of integrated LARC and LAI-PrEP services for AGYW, using the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model to identify facilitators and barriers, alongside the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) to develop targeted behavior change strategies.

Uganda 2025-08-18 13:06:49 2028-08-18 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Kazibwe Herman
ID: UNCST-2025-R017099
 IDENTIFICATION OF MINIMAL DATA ELEMENTS FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PATIENTS AT MBARARA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL AND MULAGO NATIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL
REFNo: HS6201ES

Research Question: What minimal data elements related to physiotherapy are acceptable and feasible for addition into a TBI database maintained at national & regional hospitals in Uganda? Objectives 1.To identify the minimal rehabilitation data elements, informed by international TBI databases, that are appropriate to propose for addition to the current TBI database at two Ugandan hospitals: Mulago National Referral Hospital(MNRH), and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH). 2.To retrospectively assess data quality in medical documentation for each element at MNRH and MRRH. 3.To identify user perspectives of barriers and facilitators to consistent data collection of the identified and proposed data elements across both MNRH and MRRH.
Uganda 2025-08-18 13:05:10 2028-08-18 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Robert Mutumba
ID: UNCST-2025-R019247
 CHARACTERIZATION OF INCONCLUSIVE SAMPLES ACCORDING TO RAPID TEST FOR RECENT INFECTION (RTRI) IN UGANDA
REFNo: HS6130ES

Main objective of the study is to determine the status of inconclusive samples tested in the field for HIV-1 recent infection.
Specific objectives
1.To perform additional characterization on field tested samples where RTRI results are discrepant with the national HIV testing algorithm (i.e., RTRI “Inconclusive”) to understand patterns or reasons for discrepant results.
2.To identify potential sources of testing errors to help improve quality of recency testing.
3.To compare Asante field tested results with results of the national HIV testing algorithm for RTRI Inconclusive samples

 Uganda 2025-08-18 12:55:05 2028-08-18 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
WINFRED NANNOZI
ID: UNCST-2024-R004301
 PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TOMOPHOBIA AMONG PRE-OPERATIVE PATIENTS AT KYABIRYA SURGICAL CENTER, BUDONDO SUB-COUNTY, JINJA CITY
REFNo: HS5857ES

To establish the institutional predictors of tomophobia among pre-operative patients at Kyabirya surgical center, Budondo sub-county, Jinja city,To assess the patient-related predictors of tomophobia among pre-operative patients at Kyabirya surgical center, Budondo sub-county, Jinja city,To determine the prevalence of tomophobia among pre-operative patients at Kyabirya surgical center, Budondo sub-county, Jinja city,To assess the predictors of tomophobia among pre-operative patients at Kyabirya surgical center, Budondo sub-county, Jinja city,
 Uganda 2025-08-18 12:53:37 2028-08-18 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
ALPHONSINA MUJAWIMANA
ID: UNCST-2024-R015924
 PREVALENCE, PATTERNS AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DELAY AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN ATTENDING THE PAEDIATRIC OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT CLINIC AT MBARARA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL.
REFNo: HS6113ES

General Objective To determine the prevalence, patterns, and factors associated with Neurodevelopmental Delay among young children attending the Paediatric OPD Clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Specific objective 1.To determine the prevalence of neurodevelopmental delay among children under five years at the paediatric OPD at MRRH. 2.To describe the patterns of neurodevelopmental delay among children under five years at the paediatric OPD at MRRH. 3.To assess the factors associated with neurodevelopmental delay among children under five years at the paediatric OPD at MRRH
Uganda 2025-08-08 16:28:48 2028-08-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Edirisa Kibuuka
ID: UNCST-2025-R016973
 Improving care and support of children with Cerebral palsy: Feasibility and Acceptability of Family care-group model in Kawempe division, Uganda
REFNo: HS6115ES

To evaluate coverage, appropriateness, adoption, acceptability, feasibility, fidelity and costs of implementing CP-family care-group model in improving supportive care of children with CP in peri-urban communities of Kawempe division,To assess perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing CP-family care-group model in improving care and support of children with CP at community, facility and division. ,We intend to roll-out cerebral palsy family care-group model in selected health facility catchment areas to reduce stigma/discrimination and improve supportive care of CP children in Kawempe division,
 Uganda 2025-08-08 16:27:42 2028-08-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Victor Lomonyang
ID: UNCST-2025-R017018
 Prevalence of perceived stigma and associated factors among patients with tuberculosis (TB). A cross-sectional study in Napak district, Karamoja region, Uganda.
REFNo: HS6105ES

Overall Objective: To determine the prevalence of perceived stigma and associated factors among patients with tuberculosis in Napak district, Karamoja region, Uganda. Specific Objective 1: To determine the prevalence of perceived stigma among patients with tuberculosis in Napak District. Specific Objective 2: To identify the factors associated with perceived TB stigma among patients with tuberculosis in Napak District.
Uganda 2025-08-08 16:26:22 2028-08-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
ESTHER NANSAMBA
ID: UNCST-2024-R002776
 SUCCESSION PLANNING PRACTICES, ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND SURVIVABILITY OF HOTELS IN WESTERN UGANDA
REFNo: SS3479ES

i.To examine the effect of skill development on hotel survivability in western Uganda.
ii.To determine the effect of mentorship on hotel survivability
iii.To establish the effect of internal promotion on hotel survivability in western Uganda
iv.To determine the moderating effect of organizational culture on the relationship between succession planning practices and the survivability of hotels in western Uganda.
v.To determine the level of survivability of hotels in western Uganda.
 Uganda 2025-08-08 16:24:31 2028-08-08 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Edgar Mulogo Mugema
ID: UNCST-2023-R008170
 Evaluation of a point-of-care molecular diagnostic test for brucellosis
REFNo: HS6127ES

Aim 1. Evaluate a point-of-care, rapid recombinase polymerase amplification, lateral flow detection assay (RPA-LF) for Brucella using clinical specimens from children and adults in rural southwestern Uganda with suspected brucellosis. Aim 1a: Determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the RPA-LF assay as compared to the current gold standard, blood culture, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). At Epicentre Uganda Research Laboratory, we will retrospectively perform the RPA-LF test on blood collected from patients presenting to health facilities in the Kazo and Kasese districts with malaria-negative fever for 1 week and one or more of the following symptoms: night sweats, headache, weight loss, fatigue, myalgia or arthralgia, and anorexia. We hypothesize that the RPA-LF assay can be successfully conducted in Uganda in a reference laboratory setting. In addition, we postulate that its sensitivity will be better than that of the currently available qualitative slide agglutination test and blood culture and will match that of qPCR. Aim 2b: Demonstrate the preliminary feasibility of RPA-LF test use at a peripheral health center in rural southwestern Uganda. We will conduct a small pilot sub-study to assess the acceptability and feasibility of test implementation by laboratory technicians at one of the study sites. We hypothesize that the assay can be successfully performed by local laboratory staff with minimal capacity investment. Aim 2: Explore the use of the RPA-LF assay for testing of cow and goat milk. For participants who test positive for brucellosis by slide agglutination test or blood culture, we will test self-collected pooled milk samples from their households using the Brucella Milk Ring Test and the RPA-LF assay and assess concordance between the two diagnostic methods.,The objective of this proposal is to preliminarily validate an RPA-LF assay for brucellosis that can be implemented in rural contexts in LMIC to improve brucellosis diagnosis and management.,
 Uganda 2025-08-08 16:22:39 2028-08-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Peter Musinguzi
ID: UNCST-2025-R017309
 Maintenance of Place Attachment and Future Aspirations: Towards a Model through Insights from Marginalised Indigenous Communities in Uganda
REFNo: SS4116ES

The study broadly aims to unravel the different forms of social-symbolic work Indigenous communities acting entrepreneurially (including business operators and owners) engage in to signal their relationship with their ancestral land to restore, preserve, and maintain cultural heritage for their future generation after displacement and their community’s aspirations. To achieve this objective, the study answers the research question below:

How do Indigenous communities act towards restoration, preservation, and maintenance of linkage to their cultural heritage for their future generation after displacement and their communities’ future aspirations?

 Uganda 2025-08-08 16:19:43 2028-08-08 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Pontiano  Kaleebu
ID: UNCST-2020-R019901
 Field Performance Evaluation of Kwiq HIV 1/2 Test kit in Uganda.
REFNo: HS6240ES

1.To describe the performance (sensitivity and specificity) of the KWIQ-TEST rapid test compared to the reference testing (Genscreen ULTRA HIV1/2 Ag/Ab EIA followed by the Murex diasorin HIV1/2 Ag/Ab combination).
2.To describe the performance (sensitivity and specificity) of the KWIQ-TEST rapid test, when compared to the national testing algorithm.
3.Estimate the proportion of inconclusive test results by KWIQ-TEST Test

Uganda 2025-08-08 16:18:18 2028-08-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
KEBIRUNGI ELIZABETH
ID: UNCST-2025-R017392
 ETHNOLBOTANICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL PROFILES OF COMMONLY USED HERBAL GALACTOGOGUES AMONG BREAST FEEDING MOTHERS IN KISORO DISTRICT
REFNo: NS981ES

To profile the Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Nutritional composition of commonly used plant based galactagogues by breastfeeding mothers. 1.3.1 Specific objectives i. To document the plant species used as galactagogues and associated local knowledge ii. To assess the phytochemical composition of selected plant based galactagogues used by breastfeeding mothers. iii. To determine the nutritional composition of selected plant based galactagogues used by breastfeeding mothers
Uganda 2025-08-08 14:01:54 2028-08-08 Natural Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Stephen Loro Loro Simon
ID: UNCST-2024-R016624
 Enteral Feeding of premature neonates in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Challenges and interventions
REFNo: HS6184ES

2. To develop a caretaker-led model of enteral feeding for premature neonates in MRRH using human-centred design approaches,To identify challenges that caretakers face while giving enteral feeding to premature neonates in MRRH. ,To establish the challenges that caretaker face while administering enteral feeds to preterm babies and develop a relevant intervention for care-taker led enteral feeding of premature neonates. ,
 South Sudan 2025-08-08 13:59:50 2028-08-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Odongo Samuel
ID: UNCST-2024-R016137
 PATTERNS OF, FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH, AND OUTCOMES OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG CHILDREN AGED 1-59 MONTHS WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AT MBARARA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL
REFNo: HS6188ES

3. To compare the seven-day in-hospital outcomes among children aged 1–59 months with ARI who have had self-medication by caregivers versus those who have not at MRRH.,2. To determine the factors associated with self-medication in children aged 1-59 months with ARI by caregivers at MRRH,1. To describe the patterns of self-medication among children aged 1-59 months with ARI by caregivers at MRRH.,To determine the patterns of, factors associated with, and in-hospital outcomes of self-medication in children aged 1-59 months with ARI by caregivers at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital,
 Uganda 2025-08-08 13:58:48 2028-08-08 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
ROBERT BUGWATA
ID: UNCST-2024-R016476
 Assessing the influence of Transformational Leadership Practices on Teacher Adaptability and Innovation in primary schools
REFNo: SS4052ES

1. To assess the prevalence and dimensions of transformational leadership exhibited by headteachers in Uganda’s primary schools. 2. To investigate the influence of headteachers’ transformational leadership on teachers’ adaptability in Uganda’s primary schools. 3. To examine the effect of headteachers’ transformational leadership on teachers’ innovation in Uganda’s primary schools.
Uganda 2025-08-08 13:57:34 2028-08-08 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
wabomba kadili
ID: UNCST-2025-R017841
 PUBLIC DEBT AND INVESTMENTS IN THE EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
REFNo: SS4146ES

The main objective of the study will be to investigate public debt and investments in the East African countries from 1990-2023
Specific Objectives of the Study
1. To examine the effect of External Debt on Investment in the East African Countries
2. To determine the impact of Public Debt servicing obligations on Investment in the East African Countries
3. To assess the control effects of inflation, exchange, and interest rates on the relationship between public debt and investment in East African countries
4. To Analyze the Overall Relationship Between External Debt and Investment in the East African Countries

 Uganda 2025-08-08 13:55:54 2028-08-08 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Nuluyati Nalwadda
ID: UNCST-2025-R017243
 Learning for Social Inclusion of Refugee Women in Host Communities: Perspectives from Uganda.
REFNo: SS4071ES

1.Explore the learning experiences of refugee women in host communities.
2.Examine how refugee women’s participation in learning facilitates their social inclusion in host communities.
3.To investigate the barriers refugee women face in accessing and participating in learning and their impact on social inclusion
4.To contribute to the existing literature on the strategies for improving the learning and social inclusion experiences of refugee women in host communities.

Uganda 2025-08-08 13:54:38 2028-08-08 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende
ID: UNCST-2020-R014244
 Exploring the Role and Feasibility of Natural Language Processing Techniques to Improve Mental Health Services in Uganda and Tanzania
REFNo: SIR540ES

4. To evaluate the developed ASR/NLP models in a real-life, prospective pilot in the call center in Uganda (Butabika Hospital) on different aspects of call center communication and operation. Examples include voice-based IVR tree navigation, call issue escalation, and real-time summaries (dashboards) of call data based on model outputs. The exact applications will be decided upon with users during project execution, based on clinical relevance and technical feasibility (performance of the models from objective 3).,3. To develop Automatic Speech Recognition and Natural Language Processing models for transcription, translation, sentiment and emotional analysis, topic modeling (keyword spotting), and automatic communication quality assessment of call conversations. These trained models will be used in the pipeline to extract mental health indicators and markers from mental health recordings, as well as text transcripts of the call center recordings, to develop an overall scoring of patient mental health.,2. To curate and annotate mental health recordings and text datasets in English, Luganda, and Swahili. This will result in AI-ready datasets that will be used to train models to extract insights about mental health automatically. This process will also result in clear guidelines for data annotation and quality assurance, and inter- and intra-rater agreement measures when labelling data for mental health conditions.,1. To explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of stakeholders in regard to the use of ASR, NLP, AI, and other digital health tools in mental healthcare. From this, we shall also elicit the requirements for the design and operationalization of a mental health telephone service (call center) in Tanzania and the improvement of the existing mental health telephone service in Uganda (e.g. incorporation of ASR and NLP tools).,To explore the role and feasibility of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques in improving mental health services in Uganda and Tanzania. Our initial focus is on using these techniques to address the extant mental health data scarcity and studying the quality of conversations between patients and providers of mental health care services.,
 Uganda 2025-08-08 13:50:08 2028-08-08 Engineering and Technology Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Claire Nimusiima
ID: UNCST-2025-R017994
 Assessing the association Between Disability and Mental Health among older adults: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Health and Wellbeing of Older People - Wave 5 study in Uganda.
REFNo: HS6244ES

Primary Objective
To assess the association between disability and mental health outcomes among older adults in Uganda.

Secondary Objectives
- To determine the prevalence of mental health disorders among older adults with and without disabilities.
- To explore whether any socio-demographic factors modify the association between disability and mental health outcomes.
- To assess whether HIV status confounds the association between disability and mental health outcomes.

 Uganda 2025-08-08 13:49:11 2028-08-08 Medical and Health Sciences Clinical Trial Degree Award
AGABA DAVID
ID: UNCST-2025-R018138
 Determinants of private investment and economic growth in Uganda 1990-2023
REFNo: SS4145ES

i. To establish the short and long term effect of interest rate on economic growth ii. To establish the short and long term effect of foreign exchange on economic growth iii. To establish the short and long term effect of inflation on economic growth
Uganda 2025-08-08 13:47:55 2028-08-08 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
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