Background:
Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) is a recipient of a grant from the Wellcome Trust, collaborating with the University of Oxford (UK), the KEMRI-Wellcome Programme (Kenya) and the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). MakSPH will conduct the study titled “Africa’s First Referral Hospitals: Innovation and Care” (AFRHiCARE).
AFRHiCARE is planning to conduct a baseline study in five districts, namely Adjumani, Buikwe, Kiryandongo, Luweero, and Masindi. The project seeks to recruit experienced Research Assistants to support the baseline studies. The research assistants will work under the overall supervision of the principal investigator.
Job title: Research Assistants (16)
Main role: Collect data for the baseline studies through face-to-face interviews and observation checklists, and ensure the successful implementation of the AFRHiCARE baseline study.
Duties: The duties of Research Assistants will be to assist with data collection, compilation, and digitisation under the supervision of the Principal Investigator. The Research Assistants will be responsible for the implementation of the baseline study data collection through the following activities.
- Attend the training of Research Assistants for the study
- Participate in pre-testing of study tools
- Assist in scheduling data collection for the study
- Travel to the field sites to collect and record data as appropriate for the specific objectives of the study.
- Recruitment of study participants
- Screen selected participants for eligibility and obtain informed consent.
- Collect data for the various study objectives in the baseline study, in accordance with the ethical principles.
- Ensure the completeness and accuracy of data collected.
- Submit collected data in a timely manner
- Handle confidential and sensitive data with the highest level of integrity
- Ensure safe custody of all the project equipment assigned to you
- Provide regular updates to supervisors about the assigned tasks.
- Track survey completion and ensure compensation for all the respondents.
- Perform any other duties relevant to this position as may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor.
Qualifications
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any health-related or social science discipline from a recognised university.
- Evidence of at least one year of experience in data collection in a hospital environment.
- Experience in both qualitative and quantitative research.
- Experience in collecting health-related data using REDCap and/or KOBO Collect software.
- Possession of a valid research ethics certificate, or its equivalent.
- Fluency in at least one of the survey languages: Luganda, Runyoro, Swahili, Lugbara, and Luo. Candidates should indicate their language of fluency in the application.
Additional qualities the applicant should possess.
- Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
- Effective communication
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Experience working with diverse sectors and communities
Terms of Service: Successful candidates at the interview MUST attend the Research Assistant training. Upon successful completion of the training, an appointment will be offered from MakSPH lasting not more than three months (or the duration of data collection), renewable as needed by the project.
Work station: Successful candidates will have to collect data from the selected districts in Uganda
How to apply: Interested persons should address their application to: The Dean, Makerere University School of Public Health. The complete application should include (1) a cover letter, (2) a CV, and (3) relevant certificates—all compiled in one PDF, submitted no later than Wednesday, 27th August 2025, at 5.00 pm.
Send your complete application to: recruitment@musph.ac.ug
We apologise to note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
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