National Guidelines for Research Involving Humans as Research Participants (2025)
Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) · 2025 edition (September 2025), replacing the July 2014 guidelines · last checked 30 October 2026
The national rules for any study in Uganda that involves people as participants. The 2025 edition updates the 2014 guidelines and covers research ethics committees, consent, vulnerable groups, data, biobanks and penalties.
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About this law
The national rules for any study in Uganda that involves people as participants. The 2025 edition updates the 2014 guidelines and covers research ethics committees, consent, vulnerable groups, data, biobanks and penalties.
- Version in force
- 2025 edition (September 2025), replacing the July 2014 guidelines
- Access
- Open
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
How researchers can use it
- Writing the ethics section of a proposal against the current national standard.
- Checking consent, assent and data-sharing requirements before you submit.
- Citing the correct, current guideline in your protocol.
Oversight by UNCST and research ethics committees, REC review and submission through NRIMS, informed consent (including electronic and broad consent), assent for children, vulnerable groups, compensation, adverse events, genetics and biobanks, research data, community engagement, research integrity and penalties.
Access the data
- Download the guidelines from UNCST (link below).
Methodological cautions
- Many university templates still cite the 2014 guidelines. Cite the 2025 edition for new protocols.
- The guidelines do not state an effective date on their opening pages; check with your REC whether any transition period applies.
How to cite it
Use the button for APA, Vancouver, Harvard, MLA and Chicago, and for EndNote, Zotero and Mendeley files. Citations name the original publisher as author, not Methods Bench.
Legal citation: Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), 2025 National Guidelines for Research Involving Humans as Research Participants.
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