In a move set to redefine the role of academia in national development, Kyambogo University and Gulu University have had a training in a high-impact capacity-building titled “Translating Science into Policy and Practice.” The initiative, a collaborative powerhouse between Kyambogo University, Gulu University, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) supported by AgriFose 2030 project. It aims to ensure that scientific research doesn’t just gather dust on library shelves but instead transforms the lives of ordinary Ugandans through better laws and smarter service delivery.
The training brought together Scholars, graduate students, and researchers from across Uganda and beyond. Representatives came from Gulu and Kyambogo, joined by participants from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda. The environment was one of shared purpose, a collective desire to strengthen the bridge between research, policy, and community practice.
Prof. Davy David Okello Owiny, Gulu University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, expressed immense pride in hosting the program. He noted that while universities traditionally focus on teaching and research, the third pillar which is community outreach is where the real impact lies. “Science communication is the key to solving community challenges,” Prof. Owiny stated. “This partnership enhances our ability to engage in policy processes, promoting socio-economic transformation through evidence-informed decision-making.”
Speaking at training, Prof. Bua Bosco, Director of Research and Graduate Training at Kyambogo University, issued a candid wake-up call to the academic community. He highlighted a persistent “gap” between high-level research and actual community engagement. “The community supports us, yet we have not prioritized giving back through policy and practice,” Prof. Bosco remarked. “We must institutionalize this mindset. Our goal is to translate science into tangible actions that strengthen the capacity of our staff and provide real service delivery.”
Dr. Judith Nagasha, the Regional AgriFoSe2030 Hub Leader and Senior Lecturer at Kyambogo University, emphasized that this requires a fundamental “mindset change.” She argued that by using an interaction model where communities are engaged from the start, the path from a lab result to a national policy becomes much smoother. As the training program takes root at Gulu University, the ultimate goal is to integrate these modules into the standard graduate curriculum. By “institutionalizing” the ability to talk to policymakers, Gulu and Kyambogo are ensuring that the next generation of Ugandan scientists will be as comfortable in a government boardroom as they are in a laboratory.
As Prof. Owiny concluded, this is more than just a course, it is a commitment to “tangible societal impact.”
Tags: AgriFoSe2030, capacity building, Gulu University, higher education Uganda, Kyambogo University, Research Translation, Science to Policy, SLU