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  
Johannes Haushofer
ID: UNCST-2021-R012087
 Well-being and Experience of Ugandan Students.
REFNo: SS1184ES

To determine the medium-term effects of the Malengo program on the students who attend in terms of labor market outcomes, job choice, income, and country of residence and the effect on their psychological well-being (e.g. homesickness, life satisfaction)
To establish How the demand for ISAs compare to demand for student loans
What are the immediate and medium-term effects of the program on the families of selected students, e.g. in terms of remittances received, psychological well-being (e.g. pride, but also missing a child), aspirations, and/or disappointment of siblings? What are the effects on the home communities of the students, e.g. in terms of aspirations and/or disappointment of friends and neighbors?

 Germany 2022-02-21 2025-02-21 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Leonie Eva Benker
ID:
On the emergence of a "post-postcolonial" political imaginary in Uganda
REFNo: SS1282ES

MAIN OBJECTIVES 1. Gain deeper insights into the role that historical-political narratives play in political and social transformation processes, 2. Achieve a better understanding of the transformative potential of political movements in terms of their concrete strategies, practices, and (media) performances, 3. Determine the extent to which the new political forces and developments in Uganda might indicate the emergence of a fundamentally new social and political formation characterized by a move away from a postcolonial and toward a "post-postcolonial" societal self-conception and political imaginary. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES a) Provide a comprehensive account of which historical-political narratives are currently being (re)produced and disseminated in the education sector and which alternative narratives might appear in this context and could be of relevance to A-level and university students. b) Describe how youths and young adults in Uganda today (re)interpret, (re)evaluate and (re)classify events of their country's political past and present and how they might aim to utilize and apply these altered / newly constructed historical-political narratives in and for the formation of their identities as political actors and citizens of the Ugandan nation-state. c) Delineate how these newly emerging historical-political narratives possibly differ from the hitherto dominant narratives and explain how they might seek to provide an alternative to the hitherto dominant historical-political stories and to the current political status quo.
 Germany 2022-06-16 14:44:52 2025-06-16 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Frederick GOGARTEN Jan
ID:
Comparing traditional monitoring of Kibale wildlife population abundance and health with molecular based environmental DNA based approaches
REFNo: NS343ES

To test the use of air DNA and fly-derived DNA for describing mammal and parasite communities by using the long-term monitoring efforts across transects in Kibale National Park.
Specifically aim to explore the role of flies in disease ecology in and around groups of primates in Kibale National Park, and their potential role as vectors at the human-wildlife interface, including the exploration of changes in fly density and disease prevalence.
Germany 2022-04-19 2025-04-19 Natural Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Martin Hasselmann
ID:
The molecular mechanisms underlying local adaptation to high elevation habitats in the honey bee Apis mellifera
REFNo: NS350ES

The overall objective is to obtain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that have driven the local adaption of mountain honey bees.

The research plan is divided into a sequence of different complementary approaches that will
1.) Unravel the evolutionary history of chromosomal rearranged regions contributing to the genetic differentiation of mountain honeybees,
2.) Gain insight into key regulators and gene networks underlying the local adaption of honeybees,
3.) Specifically analyze the role of octopamine ? receptors and further candidate genes as key players for local adaptation to elevation (mainly temperature) in honey bees.

 Germany 2022-07-14 12:35:17 2025-07-14 Natural Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Philipp Händel Daniel
ID:
The effect of heterogeneity, scarcity and stochastic externalities on fishers’ behavior in a threatened common pool resource
REFNo: SS1418ES

1. Understand the effects of heterogeneity on cooperative behavior.
2. Understand how the impact of risk-taking on others changes the willingness to take risk.
3. Understand how scarcity affects cooperative behavior.
 Germany 2022-09-12 18:21:28 2025-09-12 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Alexandra Schubert Victoria
ID:
Implications of Chronic Pain Relief for Economic Decision-Making among Low-Income Individuals in Uganda
REFNo: SS1462ES

Discern the effect of pain relief on economic preferences (risk, time, and social preferences)

Implications of pain relief for labor supply and earnings. This will be studied to understand poverty-related income dynamics.

Implications of pain-relief for real-effort task game. The study of self-reported labor data will be completed by a small real-effort task game, where participants can earn additional income for sorting beans
 Germany 2022-09-29 13:25:55 2025-09-29 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Amrei von Braun
ID:
RAPID SURVEILLANCE OF MOLECULAR MARKERS FOR ARTEMISININ RESISTANCE
REFNo: HS2546ES

To describe the type and prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum mutations conferring artemisinin resistance
 Germany 2022-12-12 15:42:25 2025-12-12 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Dominik Biesalski
ID:
The Drivers, Effects and Measurement of Time Use Among the Urban Poor: Evidence from Uganda
REFNo: SS1674ES

Get insights into the time use patterns of urban workers and understand their effects on productivity and well-being.
 Germany 2023-05-11 14:41:00 2026-05-11 Social Science and Humanities Clinical Trial Degree Award
Nadja Peter
ID:
Reactions to Global Inequality
REFNo: SS1710ES

incorporate perspectives from different parts of the world,explore causal attributions people give for global inequality,
 Germany 2023-07-14 9:42:00 2026-07-14 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
David Henning Johannes
ID:
The economic impact of tax compliance interventions
REFNo: SS1699ES

This study focuses on three problems.

The first problem is documenting what costs companies incur when receiving different compliance actions. While anecdotal evidence suggests these could be substantial, there has, to the best of our knowledge, not been no systematic survey documenting the costs incurred by companies.

The second problem is estimating where to optimally target what compliance actions bearing in mind the costs to companies and spillover effects. This involves three steps, 1) estimate the impact of compliance actions on the targeted company, 2) estimate the spillover effects of these compliance actions on the targeted company’s’ trading partners, 3) conduct heterogeneity analyses to understand which groups of taxpayer experience the highest/lowest impact. Gaining a good understanding of this problem will help increase the benefit-cost ratio of enforcement interventions.

Finally, if we find that firms change their tax filings after receiving a compliance intervention, we will seek to understand what drives this change in behavior. Theoretically, the mechanism behind a firms’ response is unclear. Firms could respond because they update their beliefs about the likelihood of being caught for tax evasion, because they realize that being caught is costlier, or because the intervention imposes a financial burden on the company mechanically change the amount of taxes they pay.

 Germany 2023-10-02 16:24:09 2026-10-02 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Fabien Schultz
ID: UNCST-2023-R008622
 Between Emerald Worlds: Analyzing the Spiritual, Ritual, and Pharmacological Facets of Neuroactive Natural Materials in Rural Uganda
REFNo: SS1894ES

Research questions to be addressed by this project: 1) How do various indigenous communities in Uganda understand, use, and prepare neuroactive plants, fungi, and other natural materials for spiritual, ritual, and ceremonial purposes and within their healthcare systems; 2) can the pharmacological targets of these materials be identified, and what active ingredients are causing the claimed effects; 3) can animal self-medication evidence for the use of neuroactive materials by the apes be generated for the first time; and 4)how to develop and to distinguish best-practice models for the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol for both non-financial and financial benefit-sharing when the intellectual property holders are either a) members of local human populations or b) apes (an unprecedented case)?

Main objective: To help fill gaps in social and natural scientific research on neuroactive natural remedies in a region of the world about which very few ethnopharmacological studies on the use of neuroactive natural remedies exist.

Specific objectives: 1) The first-time documentation of the cultural, spiritual, and ritual use of neuroactive natural remedies in rural Uganda, including methods of preparation and administration in a cultural, potentially ceremonial, setting; 2) the identification of new bioactive substance leads on the basis of the archiving of the chemical biodiversity of the collected samples; 3) the generation of new knowledge on how different populations interpret the spiritual/ritual settings of various neuroactive natural materials; 4) the contribution of new insights into the benefits of neuroactive natural remedies with respect to mental health and societal well-being; 5) a deeper understanding of the importance/intentions of various neuroactive substances for spiritual and ritual purposes within cultural worldviews; 6) the investigation of potential overlap in the use of neuroactives between humans and non-human primates at the study sites; 7) the shifting of negative Western views on neuroactive substances as stimulants/sedatives and rightfully DEA Schedule I substances.
 Germany 2023-08-18 9:46:36 2026-08-18 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Ulrike Lühe
ID:
The politics of documentation and archiving: conflict and transitional justice archives in Uganda
REFNo: SS1924ES

Understand the impact of international TJ interventions in how the LRA conflict has been documented,Understand the interaction between international and local actors in conflict documentation,Understand documentation and archival practices at different levels if TJ governance,
 Germany 2023-10-02 15:46:58 2026-10-02 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Stefan Mucha
ID:
Uncovering Natural Behavior and Environmental Adaptations of Wild Electric Fish in the Lake Nabugabo Region in Uganda
REFNo: NS638ES

The primary objectives of this research project are to: 1) Record and identify the electric signals produced by mormyrid fish in different habitats in the Lake Nabugabo area that vary in their temperature, DO content, and structural complexity. 2) Investigate the abundance and behavior of mormyrid fish in the different habitats by extracting key information from the electric signals (frequency of fish encounters, number of fish per encounter, detected species, time of encounter) 3) Analyze the relationship between environmental conditions (temperature, oxygen, and light) and the behavior and distribution of mormyrid fish 4) Derive an assessment of the environmental adaptations and behavioral patterns of the mormyrids inhabiting the Lake Nabugabo area that helps to evaluate the potential impact of climate change on mormyrid fish populations and their local ecosystem
Germany 2023-11-20 14:27:18 2026-11-20 Natural Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Maren Mickeler
ID: UNCST-2024-R003691
 Fostering Supportive Behavior at the Workplace: The Role of Institutional Recognition
REFNo: SS3282ES

1. Test and measure the effect of institutional recognition on emplooyees' supportive behavior,2. Measure the effect of institutional recognition on various other outcome variables such as employee well-being, retention, and organizational culture, 3. Explore on the underlying drivers of the main effect, namely reputational- and career concerns.
 Germany 2024-10-08 14:48:10 2027-10-08 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Miriam Obst Carlotta
ID:
Implementing Extended Reality (XR) for Collaborative 3D Surgical Planning in Jinja, Uganda
REFNo: HS3198ES

Investigating necessities for photographs and video recordings of the participant’s medical findings for the 3D model reconstruction, this includes technical requirements. Determination whether XR technology that was primarily created for high income countries is feasible to be used in Uganda. Work out technical requirements for the use of VR glasses. Describing virtual case discussion in metaverse including time frame. Finding out about patients/ participants individual perspective. Examining interaction of surgeons involved in the virtual room and operating room.
 Germany 2023-10-23 12:31:19 2026-10-23 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Jan-Niklas Kniewel
ID:
NGOs and the Negotiation of the Conservation Frontier in Africa, c. 1960-2003
REFNo: SS2392ES

This research project aims to systematically examine the interactions between conservation NGOs, governments, national park administrators, and rural communities in postcolonial East and Central Africa. In doing so, it contributes to a growing field of studies that critically evaluate the role of NGOs in shaping contemporary Africa. The guiding research questions are as follows: How have NGO funds impacted East and Central African countries, and how was the reorganization of rural spaces and livelihoods negotiated in the name of conservation and/or tourism? How did international conservationists engage with the states and people on whose territory the nature they sought to protect was located? Furthermore, how did the resistance that emerged from such reorganizations influence global conservation paradigms?
 Germany 2024-03-14 18:43:35 2027-03-14 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Anke Weisheit
ID: UNCST-2024-R004890
 ETHNO BOTANICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS IN GULU DISTRICT
REFNo: SS2928ES

To investigate the preparation and application methods of these medicinal plants for wound healing purposes.,To identify and document medicinal plants used by the local communities in Gulu district for treating various types of wounds.,The aim of this study is to conduct an ethnobotanical survey to document the traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants for treating wounds among the communities in Gulu district, Uganda.,
 Germany 2024-12-10 15:50:43 2027-12-10 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Antje  Daniel
ID: UNCST-2024-R003872
 "New kids on the block”? Youth environmental engagement and Fridays for Future. An intersectional and global perspective
REFNo: SS3040ES

This new environmental youth engagement as a young and quickly developing movement has not received in-depth academic attention, neither in the field of youth studies nor in social movement studies, especially not youth engagement in the Global South (see below). The motives of youth and their particular understandings of engagement remain insufficiently investigated. In addition, there is increasing criticism of youth environmental activism, namely that FFF is at least in Europe ‘white’ and supported by a well-educated middle-class elite leading to the accusation that it reproduces hierarchies (see below). However, there are hardly any academic studies that examine privileges, hierarchies and discrimination within FFF from an intersectional perspective. In order to respond to these research gaps an intersectional perspective is used to understand the motives and activism of youth in Austria, Bangladesh and Uganda and thereby their global interrelatedness. This scientifically necessary and timely research is also politically relevant since youth are acting at the forefront of environmental movements. In addition, youth engagement participants have become increasingly integrated into the international politics of the UN and are in dialogue with politicians. It can be argued further that youth engagement is not ‘just’ a certain stage of life but that it lays the foundation for transformation processes (Harré 2016; Riemer et al. 2016). Young advocates are frequently those taking up important political and social leadership in the future due to their interest and experience of advocacy (Giugni 1998; Leistner 2018): They are a “cohort of citizens who will be active participants in democracy” (Fischer 2019, 430).
Because a new youth activism emerged which is unique due to its global scope and the low average age new scientific perspectives are needed to analyse this phenomenon: A synthesis of youth and civil society studies combined with intersectionality and a comparative case study design offer an original analytical framework. This framework will provide in-depth knowledge on context-specific differences of youth engagement in Austria, Bangladesh and Uganda and commonalities of global youth activism and its activism towards ecological transformation. This research is needed scientifically because FFF is one of the major civil society players in global environmental politics and in manifold national contexts.


Germany 2024-10-31 15:48:00 2027-10-31 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Maren Mickeler
ID: UNCST-2024-R003691
 Understanding supportive leadership in organizations
REFNo: SS3820ES

This study investigates how supportive leadership influences bottom-up knowledge sharing within organizations. Although frontline employees often have valuable insights, their knowledge frequently fails to reach upper management—often due to supervisory barriers such as strict hierarchies, micromanagement, or a lack of psychological safety.

To address this, the research team is conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in collaboration with Centenary Bank Uganda. The intervention involves providing supportive leadership training to supervisors (middle managers) in randomly selected bank branches. Control branches will not receive the training during the study period.

Our main objective therefore is to test and measure the effect of supportive leadership training on bottom-up knowledge sharing and other organizational outcomes in a real-world organizational setting.
 Germany 2025-06-05 8:57:07 2028-06-05 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Graff Tilman
ID: UNCST-2025-R016859
 The Use and Repair of Capital by Small Enterprises and Economic Growth: Evidence from Uganda
REFNo: SS3846ES

The study aims to generate more knowledge on the economic forces behind repair provision for machines and their effects in Uganda as a whole. Specifically, it intends to: (i) Quantify market frictions shaping the availability of repair services for capital used by small enterprises in the milling, coffee bean hulling and commuter motorcycle industries. a. Analyse the apparent dichotomy between the thriving capital repair market in Kampala and the dearth of timely repair in more remote areas in the country using Luwero as a case study. b. Understand the business considerations of mechanics in planning where to locate, which machinery to specialise in, and how to acquire customers. (ii) Examine the impact of the availability of capital repair services on economic growth at the micro and macro levels a. At a micro level, the study examines the impact of the availability of capital repair services on the growth of small enterprises in the milling, coffee bean hulling and commuter motorcycle industries. b. At a macro level, using findings on business growth through a simulation, the study examines the impact of the availability of capital repair services on Uganda’s economic growth. (iii) Make policy simulations and recommendations. a. Simulate the impact of different policies aimed at overcoming the identified frictions, such as subsidies and benefits to repair personnel, impacting in the price of spare parts, achieved through tariff changes, transportation infrastructure improvements, or quality improvement, and expanded training programs for mechanics. b. Using the above simulations, formulate policy recommendations for the Ugandan government. As an example, the price of spare parts is a crucial variable measured in our survey. One way the government can lower the price of spare parts is through lowering tariffs. Our simulations will make predictions about the economic value of such a tariff policy, allowing us to make a recommendation as to whether such a policy should be pursued.
Germany 2025-05-14 9:55:08 2028-05-14 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
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