Research
GAMSU Commits Support towards Making Mak a Research-led Institution
By Elvis Lubanga
The Head of Makerere University Grants and Management Support Unit (GAMSU), Professor Sylvia Antonia Nannyonga-Tamusuza, has pledged to continue working with her team to facilitate Makerere staff in the research grant acquisition process, as one of the strategies towards making Makerere a research-led university.
This was during a hands-on workshop on navigating funder platforms and the GAMSU database management system that took place on 16th March 2023 at Makerere University in the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building, which brought together representatives from different colleges and units.
Prof. Nannyonga-Tamusuza told participants that GAMSU will continue to enhance research at Makerere by facilitating the grants processes. She added that her team is coordinating with several stakeholders to help negotiate with potential funders and always provide the necessary support to Makerere applicants.
She further clarified that the unit doesn’t give out research grants as many would think, but rather guides on how to get one.
“We don’t give grants, but we facilitate the acquisition processes and promote compliance,” Nannyonga said. She added that this is done to curb the difficulties faced by researchers while trying to process grants, especially in the area of writing, as well as accessing funder platforms. She also promised participants that GAMSU is working around the clock to grow the number of grants, by providing a support base at the secretariat.
Dr. Cyprian Misinde, Director of the Quality Assurance Directorate said that Makerere prioritizes research that responds to national development priorities, which in turn influences the institution’s rankings.
Dr. Misinde said he takes pride in the fact that Makerere already has a name around the world, but for it to keep the brand, it has to improve in areas of teaching, research, citations, industry relations, income generation, and international outlook. He also added that the university should think about teaching research grant proposal writing to undergraduate students, because they too have the potential, as was the case in another public institution in the country, where an undergraduate student won a grant of close to a billion Ugandan shillings.
Professor Edward Bbaale, Director of the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT), called on researchers to form research groups at the departmental level, which will keep the university focused on its goal of becoming research-led. He equally urged all colleges to ensure that they have vibrant research offices, as a means of catalyzing the process of winning more grants.
Laban Lwasa, the Senior Administrative Assistant at GAMSU introduced participants to the funder platforms accessible to Makerere University faculty and staff. He identified; Proposal central, Welcome Trust, grants.gov, European Tender Platform, Je-s potential, and Grant Forward as some of the platforms currently available.
Lwasa also urged researchers to declare grants won, which he said would enhance the management and support process for both the current or upcoming grants. He added that declaration of opportunities, whether at the proposal or implementation stage, empowers GAMSU provide them with the appropriate support.
Yunusu Musisi, from the Directorate of ICT Support (DICTS), assured researchers of the safety of their submitted data, in form of proposals, budgets, MoUs and more, because the system on which content is uploaded is very secure. Mr. Denis Wamala, also from DICTS, added that the systems are constantly updated to ensure that they are easy to use and always accessible. Participants applauded the GAMSU Secretariat for their commitment to researchers whenever called upon, which spirit they said should continue, if Makerere is to quickly advance towards becoming a research-led institution.
Research
Makerere Strengthens Research Ethics as Leaders Call for Reforms in Governance, Integrity, and Student Support
By Moses Lutaaya
KAMPALA — Leaders at Makerere University have renewed calls to strengthen research ethics, governance, and integrity systems, as the institution positions itself as a leading research-driven university in Uganda and the region.
The call was made during a high-level workshop that brought together regulators, academic leaders, and research ethics committees, with a shared focus on improving coordination, efficiency, and accountability in research oversight.
Dr. Fredrick Nakwagala, Chairperson of the Accreditation Committee at the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, commended Makerere for hosting nearly a quarter of Uganda’s approximately 40 accredited research ethics committees. He described this as a strong indicator of the university’s leadership in scientific research and training.
He noted that Uganda has made significant progress in building local capacity for research, moving away from reliance on foreign expertise. However, he raised concerns about gaps in institutional governance across the country, including weak research funding structures and limited administrative support in some institutions.
Dr. Nakwagala emphasized the need for standardization across ethics committees, expansion of ethical frameworks into emerging fields such as gene editing and environmental research, and stronger institutional mechanisms to address research integrity issues such as plagiarism, misuse of funds, and exploitation of students.
Echoing these sentiments, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences, stressed that ethical review is central to credible and impactful research. He warned that fragmented systems lead to delays and inconsistencies, calling for harmonization and collaboration among research ethics committees.
Prof. Bbaale also highlighted the need for efficient and responsive review processes, continuous training in emerging research areas such as artificial intelligence and climate studies, and stronger compliance systems to meet national and international standards.
On his part, Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of the Directorate of Research Innovations and Partnerships, underscored the importance of research integrity, noting that excellence must be measured not only by output but also by ethical rigor and societal relevance.
He said the workshop aimed to strengthen coordination among research ethics committees, align university systems with national requirements, and enhance institutional governance through clearer guidelines, capacity building, and collaboration with regulators.
However, concerns about the impact of current systems on students were raised by Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training. He revealed that many graduate students face delays in receiving feedback from ethics committees, which affects their academic progress.
Prof. Kikooma also pointed to complaints about the cost of ethics review, noting that most graduate students are self-funded and struggle to meet the required fees. He cited the example of the University of Ghana, where ethics review fees for graduate students have been waived, suggesting Uganda could consider similar reforms.
Participants at the workshop agreed that while ethical oversight remains essential for safeguarding research participants and ensuring quality, there is an urgent need to make systems more efficient, accessible, and supportive—particularly for early-career researchers.
The engagement concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen ethical standards, improve research governance, and reinforce Makerere University’s position as a hub for credible, impactful, and globally competitive research.
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