About UNHRO
The Uganda National Health Research Organisation (UNHRO) was established by Act of Parliament (2009) and
charged with stewardship and oversight for health research in the country. Therefore, UNHRO is a semi-autonomous
organization under the Ministry of Health. UNHRO is composed of the Board, Secretariat and constituent research
institutes namely; Natural Chemotherapeutic Research Institute (NCRI), Tropical Diseases Research Institute (TDRI),
Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), the Uganda Malaria Research Centre
(UMRC) and the Uganda National Health Laboratories. The Secretariat is charged with preparing of health research
plan; setting the national health research agenda, coordinating, facilitating and monitoring the implementation of
health research programmes; establishing and coordinating research collaborations, enforcing ethical standards;
providing clearance for publications and other forms of dissemination of research findings; making arrangements for
periodic evaluation of constituent research institutes.
The National Health Research System in Uganda involves collaboration between the research regulatory authorities;
UNHRO and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and the National Drug Authority
(NDA); research and academic institutions, health facilities, and other research stakeholders, such as civil society and
health research participants. The primary purpose is to generate high quality knowledge that can be used to
promote, restore, and or maintain the health status and subsequently, the socioeconomic development of the
population.
Vision
The Uganda National Health Research Organisation Uganda (UNHRO) works to create a
culture in which health policy and application is driven by research evidence in order to
improve the health and socio-economic development for the people of Uganda.
Mission
The mission of the Uganda National Health Organisation (UNHRO) is to provide
stewardship for the coordination and conduct of quality health research and its
application in the country.
Goal
To promote health research and its application for the improvement of health care delivery
for the people of Uganda.
Core Values
Integrity and accountability; Research and its application will be done in a transparent,
accountable and professional ethical manner.
Community responsiveness; Research will respond to the needs and equity concerns of
the community including gender.
Competitiveness; Excellence and innovation in operations and products.
Policy
The National Health Research Policy is a framework that was put in place to harmonise
research, operationalize the functions of UNRHO specifically to provide stewardship of
research agenda; coordination of health research; setting priorities; strengthening health
research capacity; promoting research information sharing; ensuring good practices and
ethics in the conduct of health research;knowledge translation, resource mobilisation, and
strengtheningpartnerships and collaboration in health research.