Scientists call for ethical guidelines on AI use
Such guidelines will also help university students’ use of AI in a way that improves, rather than undermines, their understanding of issues in their respective disciplines.
Participants pose for a picture after the first session of the Bioethics conference at Hotel Africana. (Photos by Violet Nabatanzi)
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) advances, scientists call for a need for the development of guidelines on its use in research to address ethical challenges that this evolution might pose.
Such guidelines will also help university students’ use of AI in a way that improves, rather than undermines, their understanding of issues in their respective disciplines.
“Students are using AI in universities, whether we like it or not,” said Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, Principal Investigator of the Research Bioethics Program.
“They are young, versatile, and aware, and they use it. If we pretend they aren’t using it or try to restrict them, they will still find a way.”
Sewankambo noted that the ethical issues surrounding AI are numerous and need to be addressed.
Globally and in Africa there are many ethical challenges for example currently, AI and machine-based learning are revolutionizing day-to-day living and therefore require attention to bioethical principles.
Joseph Ochieng, the Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy at Makerere University, also remarked that AI is among the new emerging technologies, presenting both opportunities and challenges.
“AI is beneficial and the future of medical practice and other fields, but it’s essential to use it ethically and appropriately to avoid negative impacts,” he emphasized.
“We need to address the ethical, legal, social, and technical issues to ensure AI becomes a helpful tool rather than a potential disaster,” Ochieng added.
Speaking at a bioethics conference at Hotel Africana on Monday, Joseph Ali from Johns Hopkins University highlighted the responsibilities individuals hold in the AI era and the opportunities that are present for bioethicists in Ugandan and globally to interact with each other more, to understand the world they live today and how to use technology to promote the goal.
Bioethics is the interdisciplinary study of ethical issues arising in the life sciences, health care, technology, and health and science policy. It examines the ethical, legal, and social implications of such issues (for example informed consent, artificial intelligence, and genetics) in research and our daily lives.
Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, the Principal Investigator of the Research Bioethics Program(L), the Dr Dominic Lali Mundrugo-Ogo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Uganda National Commission UNESCO and Joseph Ali from Johns Hopkins University interacting after the first session of the Bioethics conference at Hotel Africana. 
The first Bioethics conference organized by Makerere University College of Health Sciences under the theme ‘Contemporary issues in bioethics practice’ attracted scholars of medicine, public health, philosophy, law, technology and many other disciplines from Uganda, USA, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Botswana.
UNESCO bioethics center
Dr Dominic Lali Mundrugo-Ogo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Uganda National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), urged Makerere University to become a UNESCO Bioethics Center.
He said the affiliation with UNESCO is crucial, as UNESCO is the lead agency in promoting bioethics.
“It provides the university with a broader perspective and the ability to establish ethical safeguards, linking it to the global community,” Mundrugo-Ogo said.
He further explained that being part of this global network would boost Makerere University's international reputation, attract resources, and foster capacity building.
Sewankambo recalled that ten years ago, he proposed that Makerere should establish a UNESCO Bioethics Center. Although some individuals had initially pledged their commitment to this project, it unfortunately did not materialize.
“Countries are recognized for their contributions in fields like research and healthcare. Had we established the UNESCO center, it would have elevated Makerere University’s ranking and attracted global visitors to learn from Uganda’s UNESCO center,” he reflected.
He stated that such an affiliation would benefit the institution, the country, and individuals by connecting them with the global expertise available through UNESCO.