Qualitative Research Assistants

About Makerere University School of Public Health

Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) is a leading centre of excellence in public health training, research and innovation in Africa, housed under the Makerere University College of Health Sciences on Mulago Hill, Kampala. The School is committed to providing transformative teaching, learning and research services and to generating evidence for policy and practice. With over 12 programmes offered and more than 1,000 students, MakSPH conducts research and provides consultation to the Ministry of Health and bilateral and multilateral health agencies. This position is particularly relevant as MakSPH, in collaboration with Jhpiego, is implementing the Scaling the Optimal Use of Multiple ACTs to Prevent Antimalarial Drug Resistance (STOP-AMDR) Project — a Unitaid-funded, 4-year initiative across 6 African countries (including Uganda) that supports the introduction and scale-up of Multiple First-line Therapies (MFT) to slow antimalarial drug resistance, strengthen supply chains, and generate evidence for national malaria policy.

Job Details

Makerere University School of Public Health, in collaboration with Jhpiego, seeks 8 Qualitative Research Assistants for the STOP-AMDR Project. The role will conduct qualitative interviews with community, health-system and national-level stakeholders in Buikwe and Busia districts and at national level to inform the introduction and scale-up of Multiple First-line Therapies in Uganda.

• Location: Buikwe and Busia districts, with some national-level interviews (Uganda)
• Duty Station: Buikwe and Busia districts – with national-level interviews
• Duration: Approximately two months during the first phase (short-term, full-time field assignment)
• Employment Type: Full Time (Contract)
• Reporting: Field Supervisor, Project Coordinator and Principal Investigators
• Number of Positions: 8
• Posted: 2 days ago

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct, record, transcribe and support analysis of qualitative interviews with community, health-system and national-level stakeholders.
• Attend study-team training and pretesting activities.
• Facilitate entry into communities and workplaces for data collection.
• Conduct and record key-informant interviews in accordance with the study protocol.
• Administer informed consent and respond to participants’ questions about the study.
• Participate in team debriefing meetings and data-quality-control processes.
• Handle audio files and transcripts appropriately and securely.
• Transcribe recorded interviews verbatim in English and translate local-language interviews into English without losing meaning.
• Participate in coding transcripts using the agreed codebook and computer-assisted qualitative data-analysis software where applicable.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Field Supervisor, Project Coordinator or investigators.

Qualifications, Skills and Requirements

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and either Luganda or Lusamia.
• Experience conducting qualitative interviews.
• Demonstrable experience transcribing qualitative interviews, particularly those translated from a local language into English.
• Experience coding transcripts using computer-assisted qualitative data-analysis software is desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability and willingness to reside in the assigned study district throughout the data-collection period.
• Ability to work independently and meet strict deadlines with minimal supervision.
• A valid certificate in Human Subjects Protection (required).
• Previous data-collection experience in the selected district or region is desirable.

Application Procedure

• Complete the online application form via the official application link: Apply .
• Prepare an application addressed to the Dean, Makerere University School of Public Health.
• Attach an updated curriculum vitae (CV).
• Attach names and contact details of two referees.
• Attach a valid Human Subjects Research training certificate.
• Clearly indicate your preferred study district (Buikwe or Busia) and relevant language proficiency (Luganda or Lusamia).
• Submit before the deadline. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Job Summary

• Job Category: Research
• Job Type: Full-time (Short-term Contract - approx. 2 months during first phase)
• Deadline of this Job: 2026-09-27
• Duty Station: Buikwe and Busia districts, with some national-level interviews
• Posted: 2 days ago
• No of Jobs: 8
• Application Link: Apply
• Location pin: 📍 Buikwe and Busia districts, Uganda (with national-level interviews) | MakSPH Head Office: New Mulago Hill Road, Mulago, Kampala, Uganda