Research at the Centre of Child Safe guarding during the COVID-19 lockdown period

Children are at risk of being the biggest victims of COVID-19 unless urgent action is taken to develop and implement evidence-based interventions to respond to their needs.

That is why, we are mentoring a new crop of child-focused researchers to undertake rigorous child-focused research which will be used to inform policymakers and programme implementers. COVID-19 had negative impacts on children. Numerous studies done so far indicate that cases of child abuse, teenage pregnancy, child labour, and violence against children are at an all-time high.

And as children continue to be out of school, some may never get an opportunity to complete their education. Aware of these challenges, early this week, we selected 30 child-focused researchers from seven universities in Uganda and we are taking them through a rigorous scientific writing workshop to develop and strengthen their skills and competencies in research.

The 5-day training equipped researchers with the skills how to bring to the fore key issues affecting children during and post the pandemic. The researchers were from Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Nsamizi Training Institute, Uganda Martyrs University, Uganda Christian University, Gulu University and Muni University.