Kampala International University in Tanzania (KIUT) is opening its Modelling Laboratory this week to eleven of its staff members, for an intensive, hands-on introduction to R programming for health research. Running through the 6th to 10th of July 2026. The five-day course runs daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and marks a deliberate investment in the University's in-house research and data capacity.

The training, titled Introduction to R Programming for Health Research (Level 1), was confirmed in a letter from the University's Grants & Resource Mobilization Unit, which noted that participation fees for the cohort are fully covered by the Mamodex Project, so attendees are not required to pay any registration or participation costs. The gesture reflects the collaborative spirit behind the course, designed to remove financial burden and widen access to critical data skills for staff working at the frontlines of public health research.

The eleven KIUT staff members selected for the training are Mr. Dennis M. Mondah, Ms. Mourine Tumwine, Mr. Rugarabamu Rugandiza, Dr. Felix Biwott, Ms. Sarah Kemuma Onkoba, Mr. Godfrey Ochwoto, Dr. Mutebe Janet, Dr. Valiant Orodeh, Mr. Adum Joseph, Dr. Ofutet Emmanuel, and Ms. Miryam Kyungai. Their week at the Modelling Laboratory brings together colleagues whose work spans several areas of the University's research and academic activity, underlining the course's relevance across disciplines. Over the five days, the curriculum will guide participants through the fundamentals of R, one of the most widely used programming languages in health and biomedical research, with a strong emphasis on practical application. Sessions are structured around data management, statistical analysis, data visualization, and reproducible research practices, equipping participants not just to run analyses but to document and share their work in ways that hold up to scientific scrutiny.

Confirming the arrangement, Dr. Dereck Chitama, Grants Manager in KIUT's Grants & Resource Mobilization Unit, expressed confidence that the training would strengthen health research capacity within the University, describing it as an asset in the practical, everyday skills that turn raw health data into evidence the institution can act on.

The training also reflects a deliberate push by KIUT to build applied, in-demand skills among its own staff rather than relying solely on external expertise. By hosting the course at its Modelling Laboratory, the University continues to put its Dar es Salaam campus to work as a practical, well-resourced venue for short, applied courses that sit alongside its regular academic programs. For KIUT, the timing is notable too: the course lands squarely in the middle of 2026, giving staff a full slate of newly acquired analytical tools to carry into ongoing and upcoming research projects for the remainder of the year. The University looks forward to seeing the cohort put their new skills to work, and to running more such courses that bring applied, in-demand capabilities directly to the people who need them.