The Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council (UNMC) has officially launched the Uganda Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, its inaugural research publication designed to document and disseminate evidence generated by nurses and midwives across the country.
The landmark initiative seeks to capture findings from academic research, workplace data, and practical innovations developed by healthcare professionals, with the aim of strengthening evidence-based practice within Uganda’s health sector.
Speaking at the launch in Njeru, Buikwe District, UNMC Chairperson Dr. Elizabeth Namukombe Ekong emphasized the importance of documenting research as a key tool for improving healthcare delivery and service quality.
“A research journal is where healthcare providers are able to document evidence from their investigative work. When such evidence is documented, it becomes a valuable resource that others can use to enhance healthcare services,” Dr. Ekong said.
She noted that the journal will serve a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and academic institutions, adding that evidence generated through research can inform policy decisions and guide curriculum reviews in training institutions.
“It is very important that we document whatever we do in our healthcare profession and publish it,” she stressed.
UNMC Registrar Christine Nimwesiga said the establishment of the journal was informed by findings from support supervision visits, engagements with nurses and midwives, and an assessment of the increasing academic qualifications within the profession.
“We realized that there is a lot of experience and knowledge being generated, but much of it remains confined to libraries, schools, and examination bodies. This journal provides a channel to disseminate that evidence more widely,” Nimwesiga explained.
She noted that nurses and midwives across different academic levels—from diploma holders to PhD graduates—are producing valuable research and innovations that often remain unpublished or underutilized.
The journal is expected to bridge gaps in access to evidence and promote stronger evidence-based practice among healthcare workers. Nimwesiga also highlighted that many quality improvement findings shared during workshops often fail to reach a wider audience.
“Our academicians in nursing and midwifery have been conducting research, but we are missing out because much of it is not accessible locally. In many cases, such work is only visible in other countries. We want to change that by tracing and publishing our own evidence,” she said.
She added that improved digital systems, including electronic medical records and expanded internet connectivity in health facilities, will support wider access to the journal, including for health workers in rural areas.
The publication will be released biannually, with the next edition expected in November this year. However, she acknowledged challenges related to logistics and human resources, noting ongoing efforts to engage more contributors and reviewers.
“We shall continue sensitizing our professionals to contribute to the journal and support the review process to ensure its sustainability,” she added.
Dr. Alfred Yayi, Senior Executive Consultant at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, welcomed the initiative, noting that health workers generate vast amounts of data daily that often remain unshared.
“Different cadres in the health sector do a lot of data enrichment on a daily basis, but many times this information is not shared. This journal provides an important platform for that,” Dr. Yayi said.
Representing the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yayi also encouraged inclusion of other health professionals, including doctors, to contribute to the journal in order to enhance multidisciplinary collaboration.
The launch of the Uganda Journal of Nursing and Midwifery marks a significant milestone in strengthening research culture, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based decision-making within Uganda’s healthcare system.
