Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Hon. Dr. Musenero Monica Masanza has urged Universities to clasp science, technology, and innovations in order to solve poverty and underdevelopment in the communities.
Hon. Musenero said this while on a tour visit to Kyambogo University on the existing STI infrastructure, ongoing research & initiatives, and human resource capacity. Hon. said that her ministry has aligned science, technology and innovation systems and come up with an ecosystem that is focusing on improving industrial value chains. “We want to create a science, technology and innovation ecosystem that facilitates rapid movement of things along the value chain,” she said.
She went further to urge Kyambogo University to build stronger linkages and focus on specialization to harness science, technology and innovations in transforming Uganda. “Uganda’s vision is to transform Ugandan Society from Peasant to a Modern and prosperous country within 30 years.” Hon. Musenero said
She noted that her ministry is committed to making Uganda the best by picking up what had lagged behind and dropping what no longer serves the communities and then catapult into the future.
Hon. Musenero is optimistic that in the financial year 2022/2023, she will focus on taking science, technology and innovations to the market.
During the presentation from Faculties, Assoc. Prof. Edriisa Mugampoza who is the Dean of Faculty of Science Kyambogo University said that the University is prioritizing creation of an ecosystem of services that provides space for various think tanks and business incubation to tap into the rich knowledge economy of the University.
This ecosystem would be the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Park at the University. Dr. Mugampoza noted that NDP III, Vision 2040, EAC Vision 2050, Africa Agenda 2063, and SDGs emphasize the need to create synergies and engage in innovative thinking, through technological advances. And this is in line with Uganda’s Vision 2040which emphasizes policies to leapfrog the country in the areas of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Engineering.
According to Ass. Prof Mugampoza, this STI park would also include a Science Center: conservatory for Uganda’s biodiversity, storage of exhibits and their documentation. And would be a place for technology demonstration that would support the universities, government, and industry collaborations. It is a place where research will be commercialized.
