Research

Selected SDGs at Population Level in Eastern Uganda – a Subnational Analysis 2019-2020

Published

4 years ago

February 3, 2021

Mark Wamai

Students were joined by children from the neighbourhood to enjoy the action at the Annual Students' Cultural Gala 28th-29th October 2017, University Hall Grounds, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

To achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) signed up in 2015, reliable data will be essential. Without it, governments will be unable to measure progress against the goals, nor to fine tune policies to make their attainment more likely. Testing new policies and programs and monitoring the impact of old ones require robust data collected over a sustained period of time. Accurate and timely data will ensure that resources are not wasted on ineffective interventions, pointing policymakers instead towards programs that will hasten their country’s progress towards the goals. Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) provide methodologies and designs that can be replicated in national statistics and data systems. Many health interventions used routinely across the world were first trailed using HDSS platforms. HDSSs provide the engineering that can be applied in generating valid indicators.

Makerere University Centre for Health and Population Research (MUCHAP) is a research and research training platform of Makerere University. MUCHAP runs the Iganga Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (IMHDSS) that was established by Makerere University in partnership with Karolinska Institutet of Sweden and the district authorities of Iganga and Mayuge districts. IMHDSS conducted a population-based baseline census in 2005 and has been following up that population cohort to-date in selected villages. The primary objectives of setting up the site were to:

a) Provide a platform for conducting community-based research, and research training for students and faculty at Makerere University, as well as other researchers from within and outside Uganda
b) Register and monitor important health and demographic population indicators that can be used at local and national level planning for population development
c) Conduct essential household level policy relevant research tailored to inform local and national policy formulation.

The purpose of the Centre is to generate population based information that is useful to guide policy and the decision making process at district and national level. Information on demographic events at individual and household level data on births, deaths and migrations is monitored and routinely updated twice a year. The cause of every death that occurs in the community is determined through the verbal autopsy approach and evaluated by the physician. As of 2017, the total population under surveillance was 94,568 individuals from over 19,000 households in 65 villages and seven sub counties within the two districts of Iganga and Mayuge.

SDGs are a universal call for action to improve the welfare of populations by striving to end poverty, protect the environment and ensure that people live in peace and prosperity. The 17 SDGs were built on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals while including new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and justice amongst other priorities.
While some of the SDGs have been assessed through national periodic surveys like the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS), the National Housing and Population Census and national health indicator survey, it is important to assess SDG indicators at sub-National and regional levels.

Method of measurement

This measurement was conducted on selected indicators to understand the current status and progress of SDGs at a sub national rural population. A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted in a population-based cohort covering 65 villages in seven sub-counties of Iganga and Mayuge districts in Eastern Uganda. A total of 5500 households were randomly sampled from the population cohort. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect data and information on the indicators of selected SDGs. In this phase of measurement, a survey to assess the progress on indicators for SDGs 1, 2, 3 and 6 was done.

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Related Topics:HDSS Iganga MUCHAP Research SDGs

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Education

Mapping Research in Education: A Baseline Study on PhD Completion and Emerging Research Themes

Published

16 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Mak Editor

The Deputy Principal CEES, Prof. Ronald Bisaso presents canidadates for the conferment of degrees during the Second Session of Makerere University's 72nd Graduation Ceremony on 24th May 2022.

This report on mapping research in education intends to ignite debate on completion of doctoral studies to improve on doctoral throughput, and reflect on emerging research themes in order to strengthen and increase on evidence-based research from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) that can address a myriad of education related challenges in Uganda and beyond. The College of Education and External Studies (CEES) is one of the ten (10) constituent colleges of Makerere University. Makerere University aspires to be research-led in the current strategic period, 2020-2030 and as CEES journeys ‘Towards a Research-led College’, it is prudent to take stock of research capacity by analyzing PhD graduates of the period 2012-2024 and continuing PhD students admitted by 2022/2023 as well as the emerging research themes in CEES.

First, the total number of PhD completers was 121 in the period 2012-2024 out of whom only six (6) completed in less than 5 years, which is only 5 percent. This is a worrying statistic since at Makerere University, an institutional average of 41% of registered PhD students is reported to complete within four (4) years. Apparently, majority of the completers in CEES complete in 5-9 years represented by 86 PhD graduates. In the same way, among the continuing PhD students, only 59 out of 194 PhD students have spent 3-4 years on the programme perhaps because their year of admission is relatively recent. Second, the research themes that the doctoral research focuses on were explored. Nineteen (19) out of 121 PhD graduates had researched on human resource management, eleven (11) focused on technology in education, eleven (11) on pedagogy/teaching and learning, and only five (5) on inclusive education among others. In the continuing student cohort, there is a surge in students researching on pedagogy /teaching and learning (24), technology in education (20), inclusive education (16), and emergence of a research theme on STEM Education/TVET (17) out of 194 continuing PhD students.

To compound the research themes at CEES, PhD student and academic staff research funded by the Government of Uganda through Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF) focused on quite similiar themes. Finally, areas of research that have been dominant across specialities in CEES in the last and next 5-10 years were highlighted by 28 academic staff at different ranks who responded to a survey. Overall, this report presents us with an opportunity to further reflect on the CEES Research Agenda, how to tap and maximize the potential of expertise in CEES, how to harness the diverse PhD research in education and research by academic staff in order to strongly generate impactful research and innovations, and contribute to policy and practice through policy briefs, knowledge briefs, and guidelines for uptake in education and the education system.

Ronald Bisaso, PhD. FUNAS.
Associate Professor of Higher Education and Deputy Principal, CEES.

Mapping Research in Education – MakCEES – Ronald Bisaso, PhD FUNAS Download

Research

Call for Applications: Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training Course

Published

20 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Mak Editor

An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) is pleased to announce the upcoming Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training Course, scheduled to take place from February 26^th to 28^th, 2025 at the MakCHS Conference Room.

Background
Organized under the SUSTAIN Program, this course is designed to promote excellence in research ethics by equipping participants with a framework that integrates established scientific, professional norms, and ethical principles in research activities.

Course Objectives
Participants will gain the knowledge and skills to identify, manage, and prevent research misconduct, ensuring adherence to ethical standards.

Course Outline
Topics include:

Introduction to Professionalism and Ethics
Human Subjects Protection and Regulatory Framework in Uganda
Humane Handling of Animal Research Subjects
Mentor-Mentee Relationships
Conflict of Interest Management
Collaborative Research (International, Industry)
Responsible Financial Management
Data Acquisition, Management, Sharing, and Ownership
Responsible Authorship and Communication

Target Audience
This course is ideal for:

Researchers and Research Administrators
Research Assistants and Study Coordinators
Graduate Students and Supervisors

Course Fee: UGX 205,000 or USD 56
The fee covers meals and refreshments during the training.

Payment & Registration Details
Payments should be made to:

UGX Account: 9030005655047, Stanbic Bank Uganda Ltd, Makerere University College of Health Sciences Research
USD Account: 8705613993904, Standard Chartered Bank, MAK CHS NIH

Please share payment proof via email or WhatsApp and bring a hardcopy deposit slip on the first day of training to:

Miriam Musazi
Department of Anatomy, Bioethics Centre, Room C4
Mobile: +256 782 363 996 / +256 701 363 996
Email: mmusazi@gmail.com

Registration Deadline: February 21, 2025

Please note that only fully registered participants by this date will be admitted.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your research ethics skills and network with professionals committed to advancing ethical research practices.

Makerere-CHS-RCR-Training-Course-Advert-2025 Download

General

Call for Applications: Masters Student Mobility to Norway 2025

Published

21 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Mak Editor

Makerere University (MAK) in collaboration with Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) and Regional Universities Forum (for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) are implementing a five-year CoSTClim project (Collaborative Action for Strengthening Training Capacities in Climate Risk and Natural Resource management). The main goal of the project is to improve the quality of training, education and research at the partner institutions with a dedicated focus on climate risk, disaster risk management and natural resource management. CoSTClim builds on a range of other capacity development projects funded by the Norwegian Government at the partner institutions, and has a specific focus on education.

One of the components of CoSTClim is student mobility from Uganda to Norway and from Norway to Uganda. Therefore, we are inviting applicants from Makerere University and Uganda Martyrs University for Masters student mobility scholarships to NTNU for the Autumn semester in 2025. There are five mobility scholarship slots available for this year. The scholarship will cover 5 months (August-December 2025) stay at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway. The successful candidates can enroll in selected course units at NTNU as well as leveraging the stay to write their master’s thesis. The width and breadth of available course units from which the candidates can select are found: https://www.ntnu.edu/geography/exchange-students.

Limited research supervision will also be given by NTNU staff but the primary supervision responsibility stays with the allocated supervisors at Makerere University or Uganda Martyrs University.

Application procedure is in the document below. The deadline is Friday 28th February 2025.

Norpat-CoSTClim Call-for-Masters-Mobility-to-Norway2025 Download