Research Ethics Committee

John Kakungulu Walugembe

Chairperson MUBS REC

INTRODUCTION
Background
Research involving human participants requires ethical, scientific, and regulatory
oversight to protect participants while advancing knowledge for societal benefit. As
institutions of higher learning are responsible for promoting research integrity,
accountability, and scientific excellence, Research Ethics Committees (RECs) play a
critical role in ensuring that research meets acceptable ethical and scientific
standards.
In accordance with the Uganda National Guidelines for Research Involving Humans
as Research Participants, accredited RECs are required to operate under written
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Accordingly, the Makerere University
Business School Research Ethics Committee (MUBS-REC) has developed these
SOPs to guide the ethical review, approval, monitoring, and oversight of research
under its jurisdiction, while promoting consistency, transparency, accountability, and
compliance with national regulations, international ethical principles, and best
practices.
Through these SOPs, MUBS-REC reaffirms its commitment to protecting research
participants and fostering ethical research conduct, scholarly excellence, and
responsible knowledge generation.

MUBS-REC QUALITY STATEMENT

The Makerere University Business School Research Ethics Committee (MUBS–REC) is committed to providing high-quality, timely, and transparent ethical review and technical support in accordance with national, regional, and international ethical guidelines. The Committee strives to protect the rights, dignity, safety, and welfare of research participants while promoting research integrity, accountability, and excellence in research conduct.

To promote and uphold the highest standards of ethical research by providing independent, rigorous, and timely ethical review, oversight, and guidance that protects the rights, dignity, safety, and welfare of research participants while fostering integrity, accountability, scientific excellence, and public trust in research.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

To safeguard and enhance public confidence in the ethical integrity, quality, and credibility of research and innovation conducted by Makerere University Business School (MUBS) researchers, students, staff, and other researchers whose studies are reviewed by the Committee.
To establish, promote, and oversee compliance with ethical principles, standards, and procedures governing research involving human participants.
To provide independent institutional leadership, guidance, and oversight on ethical issues arising from research and innovation, and to ensure that such research is conducted in accordance with approved ethical standards.
To advise the University on the development, review, and implementation of policies, guidelines, and procedures relating to research ethics and the protection of human research participants.
To foster a culture of ethical awareness, responsibility, and integrity among staff, students, supervisors, and researchers through education, capacity building, and continuous engagement on research ethics.
To promote equity, inclusion, and gender responsiveness in research design, implementation, and dissemination, and to ensure that research contributes, where appropriate, to the advancement of gender equality and social justice.

The functions of the REC shall be to:

Maintain high ethical and scientific standards in research involving human participants.
Protect research participants and researchers from harm, exploitation,coercion, discrimination, and undue risk.
Safeguard the rights, dignity, safety, privacy, confidentiality, and welfare of research participants.
Provide independent, competent, and timely ethical review of research protocols and related study documents.
Ensure that research protocols comply with applicable national laws,regulations, institutional policies, and international ethical guidelines.
Review the scientific validity and social value of proposed research to ensure that it is ethically justifiable.
Assess the balance between potential risks and anticipated benefits of research and ensure that risks are minimized.
Review informed consent processes and materials to ensure that participation is voluntary and based on adequate information.
Ensure equitable selection and fair treatment of research participants,particularly vulnerable populations.
Monitor approved research to ensure continued compliance with approved protocols and ethical requirements.
Review protocol amendments, deviations, serious adverse events, progress reports, and final study reports.
Investigate complaints, ethical concerns, non-compliance, misconduct, or unanticipated problems arising from approved research.
Suspend, withdraw, or terminate ethical approval where participant safety,rights, or welfare are compromised or where serious non-compliance isidentified.
Advise the Institution on matters relating to research ethics, participant protection, and responsible conduct of research.
Promote awareness, education, and capacity building in research ethics among researchers, supervisors, students, and staff.
Maintain records and documentation of REC activities in accordance with regulatory and institutional requirements.
Foster public trust and confidence in research by ensuring transparency,accountability, and integrity in ethical review processes.
Ensure that research is responsive to societal needs and contributes to the advancement of knowledge, public welfare, equity, and, where appropriate,gender equality and social inclusion.

No results found.

Address to:

The Chairperson
MUBS Research Ethics Committee
Plot 21A New Portbell Road
P.O Box 1337, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 414 338120
Email: rec@mubs.ac.ug
Website:www.mubs.ac.ug