On 19th September 2025, the Uganda Case Research Collaboration (UCRC) hosted the Community Engagement Forum 2025, a vibrant gathering that brought together Community Advisory Boards (CABs), the National Cross-CAB Network Uganda, and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST). The day was filled with inspiring discussions, shared learning, and renewed commitment to placing communities at the centre of health research in Uganda.
The forum focused on five key priorities:
- Amplifying community voices in research
- Strengthening skills and capacity for community engagement
- Sharing cross-CAB experiences and best practices
- Networking and joint priority setting
- Generating actionable recommendations for stronger CE structures
Delivering the keynote, Dr. John Barugahare — a member of UNCST and several Research Ethics Committees at Makerere University — emphasized that Community Engagement (CE) is not just an add-on but a core pillar of ethical and impactful research.
He highlighted UNCST’s ongoing support to CABs through initiatives such as:
- Registration and support via the eCABs platform
- Development of CE guidelines and tools
- Trainings and advisories on ethics and engagement strategies
- Free consultations during CE implementation
- Monitoring CE practices, including the new termly CAB membership policy
Dr. Barugahare also clarified the often-misunderstood difference between mobilization and recruitment. He reminded everyone that effective CE is built on two-way feedback — with communities informing research and researchers sharing results back to the communities that make their work possible.
The forum also provided a platform for CABs to share their experiences. A standout example came from the UCRC CE and CAB team, which partnered with traditional healers to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) and the role of communities in TB research.
This initiative yielded powerful results:
- Traditional healers began referring suspected TB patients for testing and treatment.
- It highlighted the importance of engaging marginalized and underserved communities in health research and advocacy.
Encouraged by this success, the team committed to expanding similar partnerships in high TB-burden areas and invited other CABs to adopt this inclusive approach.
The UCRC Community Engagement Forum 2025 was more than a meeting — it was a celebration of collaboration, learning, and shared purpose. The stories, insights, and commitments from this event continue to shape a more community-centered, ethical, and sustainable research landscape in Uganda.
UCRC extends heartfelt appreciation to all participating institutions — Infectious Diseases Institute, MUJHU CARE, Joint Clinical Research Centre, Makerere University Walter Reed Program, Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation–Uganda, UVRI-IAVI, Africa Medical and Behavioural Sciences Organization, National Cross-CAB Network Uganda and Uganda National Council for Science and Technology — for their active engagement and contributions.
Special thanks go to our partners and sponsors — SimpliciTB, EDCTP, and TB Alliance — for their unwavering support in making this forum possible.
Together, we’re ensuring that community perspectives remain at the heart of health research in Uganda.
