SECRET project engages Busitema University to strengthen clinical trial oversight

Header: The SECRET project team with members of the Busitema University REC (c) Dr Yahaya Gavamukulya

In November 2024, a delegation from the SECRET* project visited the research ethics committee (REC) at Busitema University in Mbale, Uganda. The delegation comprised representatives from Makerere University (Prof Victor Musiime, Dr Anne Kapaata, and Ms Aidah Nakawunde Kisakye) and the National Drug Authority (Joyce Batera). The visit was part of Work Package 2, which aims to build capacity for effective clinical trial review and oversight

The Busitema University REC has been active for the past three years and is composed of 11 members with diverse professional backgrounds, including scientists, lecturers, and community representatives. Though the committee has reviewed over 300 protocols to date, none have been for clinical trials. Currently, the REC operates with a two-week turnaround time and holds monthly meetings.

The committee welcomed the SECRET project with enthusiasm, expressing interest in learning to review clinical trial protocols and collaborating with peers across Uganda and Ethiopia, particularly through joint reviews and knowledge exchange. This engagement marks a crucial step toward strengthening REC capacity and promoting regional collaboration in clinical trial oversight.

Together with the REC of the AIDS Support Organisation (TASO REC), the Busitema REC will participate in training sessions and other capacity building workshops organised by the SECRET project team.

*Supporting research ethics committees for efficient functionality and national accreditation to review clinical trials in Uganda and Ethiopia