Founded in 2008 through the visionary collaboration of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) faculty and Canadian partners, MR trains, mentors, and supports multidisciplinary teams to design and conduct locally relevant health research that drives sustainable and real change.

To achieve these goals, MR conducts workshops that facilitate academics, health providers and other professionals with practical skills in community health research methods, mentorship, and project development. Research methods are adapted, valuing local knowledge, culture, and context. Participants identify research questions that matter most to their own communities and use learned research skills to design solutions grounded in available resources and realities.

The MUST Microresearch program is housed within Department of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Research under Healthy Child Uganda. HCU also serves as the coordination hub for all Eastern African MR sites. The program has now expanded to 11 countries, producing over 1,600 graduates, hundreds of community-driven projects, and numerous peer-reviewed publications, all contributing to better health outcomes across Africa and beyond.