Application Deadline: Friday, 28 August 2026
Kyambogo University is pleased to announce the Call for Research Proposals for the Financial Year 2026/2027 under the Competitive Research Grants Scheme (CRGS) and the Kyambogo University Research and Innovation Fund (KyU-RIF).
The call seeks to support high-quality, multidisciplinary, and evidence-based research and innovation projects that address national development priorities, contribute to sustainable development, and generate impactful solutions for communities, industry, and government.
The initiative is part of the University’s continued commitment to strengthening research excellence, promoting innovation, enhancing graduate supervision, and supporting the commercialization of research outputs.
Research Objectives
The grants aim to:
- Increase the volume and quality of research conducted at Kyambogo University.
- Strengthen the capacity of academic staff to supervise graduate students.
- Enhance proposal writing and research grant management skills.
- Promote research-based innovation and commercialization.
- Increase knowledge transfer through publications, patents, and innovative products and services.
- Generate scalable innovations that create employment opportunities and contribute to national development.
Research Priority Areas
Applicants are invited to submit proposals aligned with the Kyambogo University Research Agenda, the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the following thematic areas:
- Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems and Bioeconomy
- Inclusive Education, Human Capital Development and Lifelong Learning
- Governance, Public Policy, Business Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Transformation
- Environment, Climate Change, Water, Energy and Natural Resource Sustainability
- Peace, Security, Justice and Community Resilience
- Regional Integration, Global Partnerships and International Development
- Creative Arts, Culture Heritage and Creative Economy
- Sustainable Cities, Communities and Infrastructure Development
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Innovation and Digital Transformation
- Public Health, Mental Health and Health Systems Strengthening
Funding Opportunities
1. Competitive Research Grants Scheme (CRGS)
This funding stream supports independent research projects led by early and mid-career researchers.
Funding includes:
- UGX 25 million for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences proposals.
- UGX 40 million for Science-based proposals.
- An additional up to UGX 5 million may be provided for the purchase of small research equipment where adequately justified.
2. Evidence-Based Research and Innovation Grants
Researchers may apply under one of the following categories:
Early Innovation and Proof of Concept Grants
- Funding of UGX 50–80 million
- Supports exploratory research, pilot studies, and early-stage innovations.
Evidence Generation and Validation Grants
- Funding of UGX 80–120 million
- Supports rigorous evaluation of promising interventions, technologies, and innovative approaches.
Position for Scale-Up and Systems Impact Grants
- Funding of UGX 120–240 million
- Supports innovations with demonstrated impact, commercialization potential, and opportunities for institutionalization and scaling.
Who is Eligible?
Applications are invited from eligible Kyambogo University academic staff who meet the following requirements:
- The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a full-time academic staff member of Kyambogo University.
- The PI must hold a PhD and be actively in service.
- A researcher may serve as Principal Investigator on only one application, while participating as a team member on a maximum of three applications.
- Evidence-Based Research and Innovation proposals must be multidisciplinary, with collaboration across relevant sectors encouraged.
- Female academic staff are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Solo applications are not permitted.
Researchers are also encouraged to include graduate students and grants administrators as part of their project teams.
Application Process
Applications will be submitted exclusively through the KyU-RIF Grants Management Online Platform.
Applicants should first register for an account before completing and submitting their proposal.
The online platform also provides a downloadable application template to guide proposal preparation.
All applications must be written in English and submitted no later than:
Friday, 28 August 2026 at 11:59 PM (East African Time).
Applicant Support Webinars
To support prospective applicants, the University will conduct two online sensitization webinars covering proposal preparation, eligibility requirements, and the application process.
Webinar Schedule
- 31 July 2026
- 7 August 2026
Participation is strongly encouraged for all prospective applicants and will also be mandatory for successful awardees.
Evaluation Process
Submitted proposals will undergo a rigorous review process comprising:
- Administrative compliance review
- Independent external peer review
- Technical panel assessment and budget review
- Final funding recommendation by the Research Grants Committee
Proposals will be evaluated on scientific excellence, innovation, feasibility, societal impact, evidence generation strategy, capacity strengthening, community engagement, and cross-cutting considerations.
Expected Outputs
Successful projects will be expected to:
- Disseminate research findings during Kyambogo University research conferences.
- Publish at least one article in a reputable peer-reviewed journal acknowledging Kyambogo University as the funder.
- Archive publications in the Kyambogo University Institutional Repository.
- Support graduate student completion where applicable.
- Submit progress reports, final technical reports, and financial accountability documentation.
Important Dates
- Call for Proposals Released: 25 July 2026
- Research Webinar I: 31 July 2026
- Research Webinar II: 7 August 2026
- Proposal Submission Deadline: 28 August 2026 (11:59 PM East African Time)
Apply Now
Interested researchers should register and submit their proposals through the KyU-RIF Grants Management Portal.
Portal: http://rif.kyu.ac.ug/portal
Kyambogo University encourages all eligible academic staff to seize this opportunity to undertake impactful research, foster innovation, strengthen collaborations, and contribute to national and global development through evidence-based solutions.