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  
Rene Dommain
ID:
Testing Historical Presence of Mountain Gorillas and Elephants in an African Biodiversity Hotspot using Targeted Enrichment of Sedimentary Ancient DNA
REFNo: NS13ES

Reconstructing the floristic and vegetation history of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for the past ca. 30000 years. Determining the past presence and invasion history of mountain gorillas and elephants at Bwindi Forest. Determining the natural climatic and habitat conditions that enable gorilla survival and predict future gorilla distribution in Uganda.
 Germany 2017-06-13 2020-06-13 Natural Sciences Non-degree Award
Marie Vollbrecht Luise
ID:
The effect of hypoxia on brain cell proliferation, neurogenesis and cognitive performance of weakly electric fish
REFNo: NS91ES

To understand how weakly electric fish from a low oxygen habitat vary in their cognitive performance.

To show how low oxygen influences sensory performance, behavior and anatomy in the wild.
 Germany 2019-06-06 2022-06-06 Natural Sciences Degree Award
Catarina Inverso
ID:
From War to Peace as Conflict goes on: Reinventing the state or ignoring it? Assessing the activities of armed groups and informal cross border networks in the borderlands between DRC, Uganda and South Sudan (working title)
REFNo: SS345ES

The objective is to apply the concept of ‘mobility makes the state’ to the notion of state as a framework to answer a central question: How has displacement become a mechanism of South Sudan’s state-making process?
Germany 2019-08-15 2022-08-15 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Paula Rauschendorf Kristina
ID:
Perspectives of officials, health professionals and patients on surgical care in Eastern Uganda – a qualitative study in the districts surrounding Jinja, Uganda
REFNo: HS409ES

This study hopes to provide health care policy makers and providers with further information on how to better cater their surgical services towards the population’s needs and demands. This will hopefully help to allocate resources in a more effective manner and improve access to surgery and health care utilization in general as well as for certain rarer conditions. Specific Objectives: a) Investigating underlying beliefs that lead to decisions in offering and using surgical care in Uganda. b) Finding out about the function of surgical health service facilities and the referral system in the proximity of Jinja. c) Investigating how the integration of highly specialized short-term surgical services by external specialist into the local health systems can best be achieved, since it is an organisational challenge for information, medical test, appointments, preparation and post-surgical care. d) Describing the predominant surgical conditions in the perspectives of populations, providers and planners. e) Exploring the individual and communal views on reasons for seeking surgical care or refraining from it. f) Identifying possible necessary messages to the general population, e.g. about the urgency and treatability of certain surgical conditions. g) Examining social support with regard to possible ‘soft barriers’ to surgical care, while also keeping in mind other barriers (in financing and organization) like costs as well as transport and waiting time. h) Identifying obstacles to reaching optimum care in all areas of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on all sides. i) Describing the perceived need of surgical conditions, especially regarding perception of symptoms and consequences thereof. j) Comparing these perceived needs with the evaluated needs as described by providers, planners and reports. k) Examining interactions between patients and health care providers and the process of care delivery from patients’ and providers’ perspectives. l) Finding out about perceived health status and consumer satisfaction (outcomes) of patients before and after surgery and factors that influence these outcomes. m) Comparing these perceptions and satisfaction with the evaluated health status (outcomes) as summarized by providers, planners and reports.
 Germany 2019-08-06 2022-08-06 Medical and Health Sciences Degree Award
Fabien Schultz
ID: UNCST-2023-R008622
 Self-medication in wild chimpanzees and mountain gorillas
REFNo: NS104ES

Observation of novel medicinal plants used for self-medication by wild chimpanzees and mountain gorillas:
The fieldwork at the field stations in Bulindi, Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will result in the documentation of potentially novel medicinal plant species used by great apes in Uganda, which will be reported in our publications.

Comparison between self-medication behavior in chimpanzees at different locations:
The study will generate a comparison between plants and self-medication techniques used by Bulindi chimpanzees (a highly disturbed habitat shared with humans) and Kibale/Budongo chimpanzees (less disturbed habitats).

Impact on modern medicine:
Through this study, we seek to integrate behavioral data with novel pharmacological screenings of plants. Without doubt, the evolution of self-medicative habits from the great apes to early hominids and modern humans has important implications for modern medicine. This project would significantly advance previous research on zoopharmacognosy (or “ape-pharmacognosy”).

Discovery of new plant and insect species and first-time pharmacological investigation of medicinal natural remedies:
I estimate that around 60% of all plant and insect species in the dense rainforests of Western Uganda and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remain undiscovered. As such, this project could result in the discovery of novel species, but most likely in the documentation and evaluation of novel medicinal uses in known plants. The majority of plant species used in self-medication by wild chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in the tropical rainforests of Uganda have never been screened for pharmacological activity in a lab or investigated with regard to their chemical composition.

Conservation of biodiversity:
Wild mountain gorillas are classified as Critically Endangered and chimpanzees as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Both great apes are highly threatened by human encroachment, forest degradation, regional political instability and disease. Through our workshop within local communities, we aim to raise awareness of the importance of protecting these creatures as well as local medicinal plants.


Germany 2019-09-19 2022-09-19 Natural Sciences Non-degree Award
Meital Kupfer Tvor
ID:
Representation and Responses: Refugee Voice in Uganda (Note: this has changed in regards to comments from the MAKSSREC)
REFNo: SS344ES

This research aims to change the narrative on humanitarian communications research by focussing on the feedback of beneficiaries – who are the primary subjects in campaigns and photos. This study will employ a qualitative approach, focusing on content analysis and ethnography through structured/semi-structured interviews, surveys, and content analysis, covering three levels: representation, production, and reception (Dogra, 2009). There will be a focus on semiotics (Barthes, 1977), including photo elicitation techniques (Pink, 2009) for individuals in focus group discussions to provide feedback on INGO campaigns.
Primary evidence will come from work with participants in the Refugee Law Project’s (RLP) Media for Social Change (M4SC) Programme, which works in 11 sites across Uganda, including Kampala and the No White Saviors (NWS) organisation, which is an activist Instagram account working to change narratives about the global South.

Data will be focusing on two parts: beneficiary reaction to how refugees are represented in aid campaigns and their utilisation of social media and technology to amplify their own storytelling.

Secondary evidence will buttress this analysis by supporting the narrow case study of Uganda. To ensure quality and feasibility, academic research selection is limited to peer-reviewed journals. Research on this subject encompasses grey literature, academic literature, artistic works, and social media that primarily covers humanitarian emergencies and development campaigns and their relation to the West. Secondary sources derive from relevant literature, as well as INGO campaigns, websites, and social media accounts. Other visual data will be derived from identified grassroots advocacy groups that work to challenge the INGO dominant narrative.

 Germany 2019-08-15 2022-08-15 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Cara Ebert
ID:
Impact evaluation of two youth skill development interventions as part of the Employment for Development (E4D) program of the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ)
REFNo: SS397ES

The objective of the investigation is to identify interventions implemented by the German Development Corporation program E4D/SOGA that work and have the potential to be scaled up. The E4D/SOGA funds and implements a large portfolio of interventions in Uganda – comprising a total budget of EUR 10,700,000. In this light, we intend to evaluate the effectiveness of two E4D/SOGA programs. The investigation will give guidance on policy decisions by highlighting the relevance of short-course technical skills trainings, work readiness skills and labor market attachment via internship placement.
 Germany 2019-12-27 2022-12-27 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Jörg Wiegratz
ID:
Changing the game: The dynamics of the commercialisation of football in Eastern Africa
REFNo: SS1246ES

This project is a comparative study of the ongoing and intensifying dynamics of commercialisation of football in East Africa. The aim is to empirically investigate and map the major drivers, characteristics and repercussions (also in terms of development of football, i.e. professionalism, performance, club management, fan experience, popularity etc.) of the commercialisation in two countries: Kenya and Uganda. It aims to capture stakeholders’ experiences, insights and views concerning commercialisation of football. The overall question is: what changes are triggered by the commercialisation of local football? I will talk to various stakeholders and gain some insights into developments at different clubs and commercial developments in Kampala/the country. These case studies will allow me to explore the dynamics of introducing cutting-edge commercial models in sports leagues on a continent that has had – compared to other regions – relatively low levels of commercialisation until recently. This will enable a better understanding of commercialisation-in-practice – and respective similarities and differences across the two sites - in a key football region in the Global South. The findings will inform relevant public/policy debates in the two countries, the region generally and beyond (e.g. at global level) regarding various aspects of the commercialisation of soccer. The study will contribute to the relatively nascent literature on commercialization in Africa generally. It will also draw lessons regarding commercialisation processes and issues that might be applicable to other countries in Africa and beyond.
 Germany 2022-04-12 2025-04-12 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Johanna Meinecke
ID:
Consumer acceptance of novel healthy fruit and vegetable products in East Africa
REFNo: SS418ES

Factors influencing consumers’ perception of processed fruits and vegetables
(1) Examine sensory characteristics of jackfruit juice and cowpea leaf porridge by rural and urban consumers
(2) Elicit consumers’ willingness to pay for jackfruit juice and cowpea leaf porridge
(3) Relate consumers’ dietary and purchasing behaviour to acceptance of processed fruits and vegetables
(4) Analyse if information on products nutritional value, convenience and seasonality can enhance consumers acceptance
 Germany 2020-02-07 2023-02-07 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Claudia Ringler
ID:
Reaching Smallholder Women with Information Services and Resilience Strategies to Respond to Climate Change
REFNo: SS464ES

The project goal is to reduce poverty, improve food security, and reduce natural resource degradation for more than 30,000 women in smallholder farm households through piloting climate-smart agricultural approaches using innovative information services in parts of India, Kenya and Uganda. The purpose of the project is that more than 30,000 women farmers and farm families will use information on climate-smart agricultural technologies, practices, and principles for increased resilience to the potentially adverse impacts of climate change, contributing to closing gendered yield gaps, enhanced equity and inclusion and, further, to the CGIAR system-level objectives.
 Germany 2020-06-23 2023-06-23 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Verena Wiedemann Christina
ID:
Tracking price dynamics during a pandemic
REFNo: SS495ES

Publication of academic study in peer-reviewed journal,Information of policy makers Please note that the districts listed below do not reflect the sample at large. This is because we struggled to add details on a national sample. We strive to include volunteers from all across Uganda.
 Germany 2020-08-18 2023-08-18 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Rottenberg Esther Sophia
ID:
Making evidence on antimicrobial resistance: a historical and ethnographic study across the UK and Uganda
REFNo: SS622ES

To show how evidence on antimicrobial resistance is produced with the help of a model.
2) To understand how the context of Hoima shapes the production of knowledge on antimicrobial resistance.
3) To investigate the negotiations taking place within the context of a transnational, interdisciplinary research collaboration.
Germany 2021-07-22 2024-07-22 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Pia Raffler Johanna
ID:
Access to social media during COVID-19: An analysis of social media's effect on engagement with public affairs and health behaviours in Uganda
REFNo: SS682ES

This study’s objectives are twofold. First, we seek to generate descriptive evidence relating to an important and understudied topic, as outlined in Section 2: social media usage in the Global South, in particular in Uganda. This aspect of our research will generate informative data on the frequency of social media use among peri-urban Ugandans under the age of 40, the types of social media they use, and whether they use it for entertainment, to seek information, or to communicate with fellow citizens and local politicians.
Second, we seek to generate causal evidence regarding the effect of increased access to social media on knowledge and behavior with regards to COVID-19 and public affairs, as well as general measures of wellbeing. With regard to knowledge, this causal component of the study will assess whether greater access to social media can help to inform citizens about public affairs and COVID-19, and the extent to which social media contributes to the spread of misinformation. With regard to behavior, the study will assess whether increased access to social media leads to disengagement from real-life social interactions, increased community and political engagement, and changes in the adoption of safe practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With regard to wellbeing, the study will assess whether greater access to social media leads to decreased happiness and wellbeing, as has been found in other contexts such as the United States.
Germany 2021-07-02 2024-07-02 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Nora Slania Esther
ID: UNCST-2021-R012549
 The evolutionary roots of curiosity: Understanding the interplay of chimpanzee (pan troglodytes) exploration tendencies, problem-solving skills, and neophobia
REFNo: NS319ES

We plan to identify conditions and factors that promote or suppress curiosity, as defined by
an interplay of exploration tendencies and neophobia, in chimpanzees in their natural
environment
 Germany 2022-02-04 2025-02-04 Natural Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Sarika Dewan
ID:
Maternal exposure to violence and child malnutrition: a cross-sectional survey in northern Uganda
REFNo: SS845ES

Understand the impact of COVID-19 on maternal well-being and victimization, feeling of safety and access to services,Examine the role of maternal depression as a mediator between violence exposure, nutrition-sensitive behaviour and child malnutrition.,Determine the impact of exposure to violence on maternal nutrition-sensitive behaviour.,Examine the types of violence exposure associated with child malnutrition.,
 Germany 2021-07-01 2024-07-01 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Thomas Baik
ID:
A Survey of Language Choice and Code Switching in Psychiatric and Neurological Practice
REFNo: HS1432ES

In this study we aim to explore three situations in which language choice can enhance multilingual patients’ cognitive reserve and psychological resilience. Research in psycho- and sociolinguistics suggests that languages can be used to regulate emotional and social distance. For example, one language can be associated with authority and formality, and other with compassion and solidarity (Myers-Scotton, 1995). This study aims to investigate whether such differential use of languages is also used in medicine and psychotherapy and can be applied to regulate inner emotions. This leads us to our research question: Can multilingualism benefit psychiatric and neurological patients through a mechanism of emotional distance regulation.
We will address language choice and code switching in the context of trauma and psychosis in psychotherapy as well as in the process of neurodegeneration in neurological patients. We aim to address the question of the importance of language choice in illness from all three perspectives of the biopsychosocial model, since each of the above-mentioned groups has one component of the biopsychosocial model in the foreground, meaning that in neurological patients the predominant component is biology, psychosis patients are strongly influenced by psychological factor and in trauma patients the experiences are strongly embedded in social factors.

Germany 2021-06-18 2024-06-18 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Kristina Roesel
ID:
Boosting Uganda's investments in livestock development (BUILD)
REFNo: A139ES

The program is divided into four different components that will be aligned and integrated, especially on activities that involve national stakeholder engagement and capacity building. Component 1 on Peste de petits ruminants (PPR) combines socio-economic studies, vaccine targeting and delivery, regional Pan-African networking activities (e.g. PENAPH, PPR alliance GPRA) and capacity development at the Biosciences eastern and Central Africa (BecA)-Hub at ILRI Nairobi: Objective1: Develop a socio-economic framework to assess the impact of PPR interventions Activities: Household survey in different livestock production systems; Longitudinal study-sentinel households; System dynamic modeling; Focus group discussions Outputs: Livelihoods impacts of different PPR control options Objective 2: Update the epidemiological status of PPR to allow assessment of control options Activities: Cross-sectional survey in different livestock productions systems; Post vaccination sampling; Genetic characterization of PPRV isolates; Participatory disease search; Slaughter house surveillance; Develop PPR risk maps Outputs: Updated risk map of PPR, circulating PPR genotypes, other important SR diseases Objective 3: Capacity development Activities: Support review of National PPR control strategy; Review of animal health services; Multi-stakeholder platform for AH service delivery to discuss gaps and define new mechanisms for control and surveillance; Strengthen passive surveillance system; Awareness creation of farmers; Post vaccination sampling Outputs: Novel models of animal health service delivery, strengthened surveillance system, capacity enhanced Component 2 on Rift Valley fever (RVF) includes the characterization of animal and human samples from outbreaks in 2016 and 2018, socio-economics, development of a risk and vulnerability map for Uganda as a decision-making tool Objective 1: Improved knowledge on RVF epidemiology Activities: Genotyping (RVF and other viruses); Serology (establish Gn/Gc distribution); Outbreak response; Entomological studies; Risk mapping Objective 2: Socio-economic studies Activities: Ex-ante analyses of control options; KAP questionnaire surveys; Gender assessments – exposure and constraints on uptake of interventions Objective 3: Develop National action plans/policy work and extension Activities: Contingency plans/decision support tools; Community trainings Outputs: RVF risk map, genetic characterization of circulating strains (informs vaccine interventions), Improved RVF national action plans, Training and communication materials, capacity building, improved capacity on vector sampling/surveys and biological sampling; PhD/MSc training Component 3 on Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will contribute to the finalization of the National AMR action plan, describe and quantify the use of antimicrobials in the peri-urban poultry value chain. Objective 1: Understand knowledge, attitude, practices, and incentives for AMU in poultry value chains in Uganda, and the role of formal and informal markets Activities: Literature review on AMR and AMU in the poultry sector in Uganda; Gender sensitive rapid appraisal with AMUSE tool; Identify possible intervention entry points to improve AMU Objective 2: Assess risks to humans from poultry-associated AMR: Research on AMR transmission risks at the human-animal-environmental interface in different poultry production systems (smallholder and commercial; rural and peri-urban) in Uganda Activities: Map possible transmission pathways within the production system; Conduct AMR and residue prevalence surveys; In-depth AMR transmission studies that include environmental samples, and farm workers, and samples from other animal species potentially housed together with poultry; Outline risk pathways for human exposure to AMR from poultry production Objective 3: Design and evaluate interventions to reduce AMU in poultry value chains in Uganda Activities: Design interventions (co-design with poultry producers), closely monitor implementation over time to understand incentives to motivate change; Establish drug use monitoring system in poultry farms to allow M&E; Qualitative and quantitative analysis of intervention impact Objective 4: Support evidence-based policy dialogue for antimicrobial surveillance and AMR strategies Activities: Organise multi-stakeholder workshops to discuss feasibility, challenges, and constraints in implementing NAP in poultry sector, involve representatives from other countries and support continued review of NAP Objective 5: Build capacity in value chain actors, implementers, researchers Activities: Conduct capacity development need assessment; Develop capacity development plan for different stakeholder groups Component 4 on Veterinary Public health (VPH) at the point of slaughter includes scaling of already piloted butcher training curricula and implementation of abattoir-based sentinel studies for animal disease surveillance Objective 1: development of curriculum for capacity building of meat handlers on good hygienic practices (slaughter house personnel, butchers, meat transporters); meat inspectors on carcass inspection and mobile reporting; Public engagement of consumers; laboratory personnel (GLP and quality assurance) Activities: Baseline assessment of meat handlers’ knowledge and practices; hygiene indicators, selected pathogens; Consolidation and adaptation of existing materials for training of butchers; assessment of suitability of consolidated training materials and delivery mode with stakeholders; delivery of the training; endline study to assess success of the intervention Objective 2: proof-of-concept slaughterhouses as sentinels for zoonotic disease Activities: Mapping slaughterhouses through key informants and GIS; grey and published literature review; prioritization of disease in slaughterhouses/ identification of critical control points – KII and FGD with vets, meat inspectors, public health staff; Ethnographic observation of slaughterhouses; biological survey in animals and humans
Germany 2022-05-13 7:44:12 2025-05-13 Agricultural Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Nadine Schubert
ID:
Genetically-based social communication in an inbred group-living wild mammal
REFNo: NS273ES

The aim is to investigate the role of immune genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in affecting odour cues used for social communication in banded mongooses. Furthermore, we want to investigate the link between MHC composition of an individual and fitness parameters as well as the impact of the MHC on microbiota communities. Last, it is crucial to test the ability of banded mongooses to discriminate MHC-based differences in odour cues in a natural setting.
 Germany 2021-10-05 2024-10-05 Natural Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
Tobias Klaus
ID:
Africa: Research and Teaching platform for Development - Sustainable Modular Grids for Grid Stability (ART-D Grids)
REFNo: SIR94ES

Together with the African and German partners, the objective of the project is to develop new ways of electrifying remote regions in East Africa through microgrids and their interconnection. These grids on the one hand meet the needs of rural communities for a robust and largely uninterruptible energy supply and on the other hand meet the politically motivated need for a centrally well-manageable power supply within the framework of a national grid. Many years of experience have shown that an interdisciplinary approach makes sense for such a project, since the sustainable operation of infrastructure systems not only depends on sound technology, but social and economic factors also influence sustainable operation.
 Germany 2022-08-09 9:22:32 2025-08-09 Engineering and Technology Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Deborah Wockelmann
ID: UNCST-2021-R012679
 Rwandans and Burundians in Uganda: Linguistic practices of differentiation and categorization
REFNo: SS1023ES

The aim of the dissertation project is to examine the life realities of Banyarwanda in Uganda. It deals with language use, language ideologies and language identity in the context of migration and is anchored in sociolinguistics and anthropological linguistics. The main aim of this research is to identify how people of Rwandan descent in Uganda identify themselves culturally, how they maintain their heritage and how they are seen by others in the society.
 Germany 2022-10-19 10:47:38 2025-10-19 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Degree Award
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