_{By Moses Lutaaya}

Kampala — A high-level webinar hosted by the Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships in collaboration with the Directorate of Graduate Training at Makerere University has reinforced the urgent need for early engagement with research ethics, drawing over 500 participants in attendance and close to 980 registrations to discuss ethical approval processes and responsible research conduct.

Delivering the closing remarks, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, emphasized that research ethics is not merely an administrative requirement but the very cornerstone of academic excellence and integrity.

“Research ethics is not something you come to at the end of your study—it is the foundation upon which credible and impactful research is built,” Prof. Ssali said. “From proposal development to dissemination, every stage must reflect ethical responsibility.”

She urged graduate students to take full ownership of ethical responsibility by embedding ethical considerations throughout the research process. Cautioning against misconduct, she added: “Shortcuts such as falsification of data or unethical practices will not only compromise your work but will also attract serious academic and disciplinary consequences.”

Prof. Ssali further encouraged researchers to actively seek guidance from supervisors and Research Ethics Committees (RECs), reaffirming the university’s commitment to building a robust culture of responsible, transparent, and credible research.

Earlier, Dr. Hellen Opolot, the Assistant Executive Secretary and Head of the Division of Research Management and Quality Assurance at the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, delivered a comprehensive presentation on research misconduct and its far-reaching implications.

“Research misconduct goes beyond fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism,” Dr. Opolot explained. “We are also seeing practices such as ghost authorship, lack of ethical approval, selective reporting, and data manipulation, all of which undermine the integrity of research.”

She noted that pressures to publish, competition for funding, weak supervision, and limited training in ethics often drive such misconduct.

“These practices damage institutional reputations, erode public trust, and weaken the credibility of academic qualifications,” she warned. “They can lead to loss of funding, broken partnerships, and even affect national development because the knowledge produced becomes unreliable.”

Dr. Opolot called for stronger enforcement mechanisms, continuous ethics training, and strict alignment with national regulatory frameworks to safeguard research quality.

In his opening remarks, Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships, Prof. Robert Wamala, underscored the need to address ethics at the very beginning of the research journey.

“Many students treat ethical approval as a last-stage requirement, and that is where the problem begins,” Prof. Wamala said. “Ethics must come first if we are to produce credible and impactful research.”

He urged researchers to engage RECs early, noting that ethical compliance is critical for protecting participants’ rights and ensuring globally acceptable research outputs. He also highlighted institutional support systems available to guide researchers through the ethical approval process.

Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training, emphasized that ethical compliance is central to the university’s research agenda.

“Ethical clearance is not optional—it is a requirement,” Prof. Kikooma stated. “Without it, students cannot defend their research or graduate. This is clearly stipulated in our Graduate Handbook and institutional policies.”

He also pointed to emerging ethical challenges, particularly in the use of artificial intelligence, calling for responsible and informed application of new technologies in research.

From the Research Ethics Committee perspective, Prof. Stella Neema the Chair MAKSS-REC explained that ethical approval is mandatory for studies involving human participants, personal data, sensitive topics, or vulnerable groups.

“There is no retrospective approval,” she stressed. “Researchers must obtain ethical clearance before they begin data collection. That is non-negotiable.”

She encouraged researchers to consult RECs for guidance, especially where exemptions may apply, emphasizing adherence to ethical standards to protect participants and maintain research integrity.

Dr. Daniel Waiswa, representing the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Research Ethics Committee (CAES REC), highlighted the broader value of ethical research.

“Ethics ensures protection of participants, promotes valid and reliable findings, and sustains public trust,” Dr. Waiswa noted. “Principles such as informed consent, confidentiality, fairness, and minimizing harm are essential if research is to have real societal impact.”

The webinar also brought together several Research Ethics Committee Chairpersons, including Dr. Paul Kutyabami, Dr. Moses Ocan, and Dr. Eddie Walakira, among others—reflecting a strong, coordinated commitment to strengthening ethical research oversight across institutions. Overall, the engagement delivered a unified message: ethical approval is not a procedural hurdle but a fundamental pillar of quality research. Participants were urged to “start with ethics” to ensure their work meets the highest standards of integrity, credibility, and societal relevance.