ABSTRACT African universities have been tasked by their governments to develop and build research capacity, performance, and output, which puts a focus on university research management. Paying attention to research management is very important for any country trying to improve its research performance. However, university research management is an area that has been neglected. This study focused on finding out factors research managers perceive to be hindering university research management. The qualitative methodology was used. The study population comprised 25 research managers from two English-taught Cameroonian universities. This study found that factors research managers perceive to be hindering research management include conflict between research managers and researchers, politics, and corruption in research management, inadequate skilful research managers, limited research facilities, inadequate salaries, and lack of extrinsic motivation. This implies that less attention has been paid to research management in universities. Implications are given to improve research management practices in universities.