Our first international training started on 16th of August 2013 and we administered a sequential 3–phase course consisting of self–driven introductory learning (10 days) and face–to–face didactic lectures and hands–on group work (5 days) in Kampala, Uganda. Dr. Andrew Oxman from the EPOC REVIEW GROUP, Oslo, Norway, supported the face-to-face workshop in Kampala. We provided follow-up technical support in conducting systematic reviews to the course participants. In this cohort, (cohort 1) the follow-up phase was expected to last at least 18 months after the face-to-face training (until February, 2015) upon which we were to make the final analysis. The participants were from the following institutions:

We admitted 26 (62%) participants out of 42 total applicants, 9 (34.6%) of whom were female scientists. Applicants were from 7 countries including Ethiopia, Botswana and Cameroon who are outside the East African region. Trainees represented 9 different universities or research institutes in Uganda (20), Kenya (2), Tanzania (1), Rwanda (1), Botswana (1) and Cameroon (1). These institutions were:

• • Makerere University College of Health Sciences
  • Gulu University Department of Community Health
  • International Health Sciences University
  • Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda
  • The Kenya Medical Research Institute Malindi and Kisumu, Kenya
  • Centre for the Development of Best Practices in Health, University of Yaoundé 1 Cameroon
  • University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
  • National University of Rwanda, School of Public Health, Kigali, Rwanda.

Twenty (20, 77%) and 24 (92.3%) participants completed the self–driven introductory learning and face–to–face sessions respectively. The student from Rwanda did not present for the Kampala workshop. During this period, participants identified 12 potential review questions and were involved in 5 ongoing reviews at the start of the training. Two (2) new protocols have been registered, two (2) have been revived, one (1) review was earmarked for updating, one (1) was published and one (1) new systematic review grant application was successful.

Among the challenges identified by the training participants were: (a) absence of funding to support systematic review activity in their home institutions; (b) limited support by work supervisors to prepare reviews; (c) difficulty in team building at workplaces due to perceptions and lack of skills by members of their home departments; (d) time constraints and specific skills gaps in preparing systematic reviews