By Olive Kyogabiirwe, a.k.a Princess Kyoga, olive.mentor1@gmail.com
NEMRA Thematic Fellow – Training & Mentorship

1.0 Introduction

This represents personal learning experiences from the five-day workshop (22nd – 26th April 2024), organized by NEMRA & EASRN, hosted by Kyambogo University and facilitated by Canadian volunteers Prof. Mike Brklacich and Prof. Dave Valliere. The physical workshop attracted over 40 participants from various universities including Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Muteesa 1 Royal University, Uganda Christian University, Bishop Stuart University, Busitema University, Bugema University, and a team of researchers from NEMRA. Appreciation goes to all those who initiated the project, the organizers, the trainers of trainers, the participants, our hosts, and service providers. Thank you for the support and participation.

2.0 Day One

Day one was adorned with inspiring yet challenging remarks from the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at KYU and the Vice-Chancellor of KYU at the opening ceremony. Participants were warmly welcomed to the host institution but were also encouraged to find time for research endeavors and become ambassadors of the training program to ensure its sustainability across different institutions. The visiting professors, a.k.a Mike and Dave, commenced the training by engaging us on formulating research topics, navigating through literature, and discerning which journals to explore. Participants were motivated to train researchers to address global challenges from diverse perspectives, mphasizing shared responsibilities in research.

3.0 Day Two

Day two concluded the first theme of planning research with an intensive study of grant applications and grant management. Understanding grant guidelines and financial regulations of the two countries was particularly highlighted. As the trainer aptly put it, “research is not stone casting.” The second theme enlightened us on understanding our position in the theory-building/testing cycle to progress further. The project design module empowered participants to train researchers in breaking down project designs into subsections, providing necessary resources for data collection, and imparting relevant knowledge and skills for instrument design. Skills in data management, including recruiting respondents and addressing outliers and erroneous responses, were underscored.

4.0 Day Three

The third theme centered on sharing research, where participants reflected on experiences and deliberated on reasons and methods for participating in conferences. Dynamics of poster presentations and slide design were also explored. The visiting professors elucidated the journal writing process from conceptualization to publication, emphasizing the importance of abstract inclusion. It was unanimously agreed that writing alone is arduous, with encouragement to aim for A-class journals.

5.0 Day Four

The career development theme, through modules on time management, raising one’s profile, and contributing to the academy, equipped us with networking and collaboration skills, personal branding techniques, and insights into pursuing advanced degrees. Participants were urged to cultivate relevant support skills, recognizing the importance of self-care and work-life balance for researchers.

6.0 Day Five

The workshop concluded with discussions on sustainability strategies for the ECRU initiative. While participants found the content fitting with relevant sessions, suggestions were made for more practical training and increased time allocation for researcher training. Reporting and engagement of key stakeholders in different institutions were identified as imperative for transferring acquired knowledge and skills. Participants also committed to initiating grant writing for financial support of the program. Each day’s training commenced with reflective and interactive recaps of the previous day’s activities, with module evaluations conducted to gather important feedback. Prof. Obua (Dean of the Postgraduate School at Kyambogo University) closed the workshop by emphasizing the importance of making money in research and positioning oneself strategically to avoid life’s uncertainties.

7.0 Way Forward

Moving forward, I urge all NEMRA members who participated in the training to engage in knowledge sharing within NEMRA and beyond. As Robert Noyce said, “Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.” I take this opportunity to call upon a.k.a Senior Mentor, Dr. Gad Ruzaaza Ndaruhutse (PhD), Thematic Leader – Training and Mentorship at NEMRA, to guide us in the next steps.

Participants holding discussions on sustainability strategies of the programme during the workshop.

Dear NEMRA fraternity!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the New Year 2025.

To our esteemed Board of Directors, welcome to the new year and thank you for supporting
the executive. Your trust, dedication and hard work are pivotal to our success.

NEMRA membership, we appreciate your support, ideas and fresh perspectives. We extend
an invitation for your continued and active participation in the various activities that
promote NEMRA’s agenda.

To our partners, both in-country and out of country, with whom we have forged impactful
partnerships and collaborations. We dearly thank you for the support.
Looking ahead into 2025, NEMRA remains steadfast and resilient in its commitment to
serve its core mandate to create impact. In this ever-changing research and business
environment, I would like to encourage all of us to actively harness the available
opportunities, and take on any challenges but with the aim to create impactful change to
the community. Put differently, let us all remember that “change brings opportunities.”
This year, by fully drawing on the strengths of diversity and collective capabilities, I
would like to see us step up our individual and collective efforts with a focus on
harnessing growth for NEMRA.

In the last 6 months of our administration, the ExCom has coordinated and delivered
impactful initiatives; monthly seminars, conducted two outreach programs/ dissemination
workshops for research and research products for Northern Uganda at Muni University,
and for Eastern Uganda at Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU). The exCom further
organized a ladies’ breakfast meeting, and an end of year NEMRA networking function.
We encourage you to always participate in NEMRA networking activities. Also, through
our coordination and support, a number of research proposals are under review and we
await positive feedback. Please, at least join a proposal writing group, ExCom is ready
to support you!

On an unpleasant note, our network level of compliance to subscription need a push.
Today, out of over 200 of our registered members, less than 100 are actively subscribed.
I would like to take this opportunity therefore to reiterate the importance of compliance
on this front. To encourage on this, ExCom is in the process of procuring an IT system
that gives real time updates and notifications to all members at the expiry of your
subscription.

In this quarter, January to March and beyond, ExCom has developed calendar and to-do
list merged into one dashboard view to be populated by all Departments to harmonize and
streamline operations. This will be shared on all NEMRA communication platforms for
membership interaction. Some of the activities for your interaction as planned include
write shop, mentorship and training sessions, winning grants and proposal writing
coaching among others. Important for us all as early as now, NEMRA will host the 2nd
annual conference on 1st and 2nd July, 2025 at Makerere University, FST conference
Hall. Prepare your abstracts and submit accordingly.

I would like to conclude my New Year’s message and greetings by wishing you all a healthy
and fulfilling year. Let us all come together to harness the opportunities as well as change,
and make this a year a fulfilling one for NEMRA.

On behalf of the NEMRA Executive and my behalf, I wish you all a happy 2025!

Karlmax Rutaro, PhD
NEMRA Managing Director

July 2023 was a landmark month in the life of NEMRA. The second general election to choose the Board of Directors (BoDs) was conducted. NEMRA’s first ever election in July 2020 saw Prof. Stella Neema take on the mantle as the inaugural Chairperson of the NEMRA BoDs working with a team of other six members. The BoDs is elected by members and serves NEMRA for three years. The general responsibility of the BoDs is to provide oversight and general management of the implementation of the strategic direction of NEMRA. NEMRA envisages a wide and well-resourced network of academic researchers and practitioners advancing a culture of intellectually generated evidence-based policy and practice in Africa.

As an inaugural BoDs, the 2020-2023 team took on the task in a difficult environment with the raging global Covid 19 pandemic. NEMRA was also in its nascent stages then with unstructured operations. Prof. Neema’s team have left NEMRA with a clear strategic plan, structured operational guidelines and a well spelt out governance structure. The team also made significant strides in launching an Executive Committee, establishing networks and collaborations, and supporting the Exec to execute the day-to-day activities of the network. They have left a significant mark in the history pages of NEMRA.

The team picking on the baton are led by Dr. Martin Ongol (Chairperson) deputised by Assoc. Prof. Edith Natukunda Togboa. Others on the team are Dr. Christine Mwebesa (Finance Director), Prof. Monicah Chibita (HEIs Rep), Mr. Arthur Makara (Government Institutions Rep), Mr. Moses Tuhame (CSO/Businesses Rep) and Dr. Wilberforce Kabweru (Postgraduate Students Rep). We wish the team a great term.

In other news, NEMRA’s Company Secretary of 4 years is moving on.

Dr. Kakuru Robert joined NEMRA in 2018 and was nominated by the Board of Trustees to serve NEMRA in the capacity of Company Secretary in 2019. Dr. Kakuru took on the position with experience and zeal to see NEMRA structured in compliance with the legal guidelines provided for running registered non-profit organisations. He was instrumental in matters of registration and filing. He also served on the Special Board Committee in charge of appointments to define the Executive Committee’s legal appointment and management. He played a crucial role in organising and conducting NEMRA’s general elections. He also served on the BoDs as an ex-official according to the operational guidelines of the BoD.

Dr. Kakuru is committed to continual involvement in NEMRA but his active participation in NEMRA management will be greatly missed. The BoTs nominated Mr. Patrick Mutabwire, an experience administrator, and former BoDs member to take on the role of NEMRA’s Company Secretary effective 1^st August 2023.

THE CHOICE I MADE: A story of Passion, Resilience and Life Long Learning; Dr. Gad Ruzaaza Ndaruhutse (Ph.D) chronologically recounts his lifespan thus far, exploring with us distinctive choices that he made at each point of his life and to what path they led his footsteps.

It’s an informative intriguing story of a young boy from the late 1960’s whose life journey starts from Kiburara village, Kisoro district in Uganda with a commitment to be a life long learner. It is this passion that enables him to immensely contribute to so many pivotal developments at the community, national and global levels especially in the health sphere.

This is equally a story of survival, hope, reflection, prayer and above all unwaivering resilience. Indeed, as a life long teacher, Dr. Gad’s lifestory leaves us with a question to ponder on, “What choices are we making?” There is no doubt that these will birth our true legacy!

Well done nemra for concluding 2019 last weekend with a members’ end of year breakfast meeting. I am so privileged to have been part of this winning team. I look forward to more years of making a difference in the lives of postgraduate research students, academics and everyone who benefits from research indeed.

1. Mr. Konrad Sanyu– Searching for and managing online resources with application of zotero.At Piato restaurant and Bishop Stuart University Mbarara
2. Mr. Joshua Byenkya – Application of Atlas.ti in qualitative data management & analysis.At Makerere University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
3. Dr. Loice Natukunda – Making sense of qualitative data, Critical reading & writing, and effective viva defence. At Piato restaurant, Makerere University, Bishop Stuart University Mbarara and Bugema University, Kampala
4. Mrs. Christine Mwebesa – Making sense of qualitative data analysis at Bishop Stuart University Mbarara
5. Prof. John Mugisha – Effective research supervision.
   At RAN lab, Kololo
6. Prof. Jude Lubega – Research supervision as an academic Mentorship tool. At Bugema University, Kampala.
7. Dr. Medad Twinamastiko – Conceptualisation of research ideas.
   At Ankole Western University
8. Prof. Elizabeth Bacwayo – Anniversary Keynote speech on the role of African scholars in the wellbeing of the continent. At Uganda Christian University.
9. Dr. Edgar Nabutanyi – Writing for publication. At Makerere University.
10. Dr. Hanifa Nabuuma – Presentation skills for academics. At Bugema University
11. Prof. Mesharch Katusiime – Networks and collaborative relationships in research and scholarship. At Bishop Stuart University Mbarara.
12. Dr. Ashrad Sentongo– Effective navigation of a postgraduate research journey. RAN lab Kololo.
13. Prof. Stella Neema. Opportunities and challenges for women in academia, The academic woman: her finances and investments at Plato restaurant

Our Sponsors 

1. Prof. William Bazeyo
2. Prof. John Mugisha
3. Assoc. Prof. Doris Kakuru
4. Mrs. Christine Mwebesa
5. Assoc. Prof. Mesharch Katusiime
6. Prof. Elijah Mushemeza
7. Uganda Christian University.

THANK YOU ALL. 

A document covering full technical and financial reports is available on request.