Kyambogo University participated in the Uganda National Science Week that started from 2nd to 10th November 2021. The exhibition theme was: “The future of STI in Uganda: Breaking the silos and leveraging synergies for a skilled and sustainable workforce for national economic transformation.” the event was launched by Dr. Monica Musenero, the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister.

Speaking at the celebrations to mark the World Science Week for Peace and Development at Kololo Independence Grounds on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said the government has taken definitive steps towards building a robust, competitive and sustainable mobility industrial value chain in Uganda that he said will ensure the dream is realized.

“The prioritization of the mobility industrial value chain is to provide an unprecedented opportunity for harnessing the nation’s population dividend in promoting value addition to Uganda’s mineral and other natural resources with the view of import substitution and export promotion of vehicles, parts, components, systems and mobility engineering services,” Museveni said.

The university exhibited different projects under four different economies of Mobility, Engineering, Beauty and Apparel and Pathogen.

Under Mobility Economy, the university exhibited a project on “production of fuel from plastic waste” by Mr. Latifu Waiswa, a second-year Master of Science student, Dr. Farooq Kyeyune and Dr. Michael Okullo all under the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science.  This project helps to solve the waste plastic problem by converting to liquid fuel through the pyrolysis process in a sustainable economically and eco-friendly way.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero visiting the stall under Beauty and Apparel Economy

The project under engineering economy was “The hands-free door system”- Togikwatako led by Ms. Behaireyo Rhodhah a fourth student of Electrical Engineering under the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. This project was innovated during lockdown days. It’s a tool that opens doors, ATM machines, printers and other places where many people touch.

Under Pathogen Economy, the University also exhibited “Biocontrol for management of banana Xanthomanas wilt (BXW) in Uganda: Preliminary findings “This project was led by Dr. Rita Nakayinga (Lecturer, Researcher) Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science. The project is to help find a cure for the banana wilt with its devastating effects on food security.

Under Beauty and Parallel economy, the university exhibited a project of recycling materials led by Dr. Isingoma Evelyne.

While the Science Week was concluding on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, another one organised by the National Council for Higher Education was opening.

In addition to the above innovations exhibited at Kololo, other innovations were exhibited and these are:

The Dynamic Hospital Management System, an online software which is designed to manage different aspects of a National or Regional Referral Hospital such as medical, finance, administrative and the corresponding processing of services.

The Smart Hybrid Farm Management System. This is a project that enables a farmer to monitor, add value and control farm productivity at a distance. It monitors weather patterns, moisture content, soil nutrient levels, and pest and disease control.

E-Waste Management System. E-waste is now the fastest growing waste stream globally and Uganda has not been spared. This required special attention to be given to the sector and for interventions to be adopted to mitigate the adverse effects of e-waste to human health and the environment and collecting the e-waste from the public would require monetary incentives. The proposed system uses the Internet of Things (IoT) for monitoring e-waste object detection, e-waste count, bin percentage level, and payment respectively. A mobile money application programming interface (API) is embedded to affect the payments. The application enables users to log in, create accounts, assess the amount and type of e-waste in the bin, and also enables them to access the bidding platform.

The First Lady and the Minister of Education and Sports who was the Chief Guest said the government is aware of the challenges institutions of higher learning are facing in moving towards e-learning including low adaptation to the new normal, rigidities in attitude and access to stable and affordable internet connectivity. She said the government is devising ways of addressing those challenges.

At the same function, Prof. Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya, the Chair Board of the National Council for Higher Education called upon the government to put in place mechanisms that will reduce costs of data and equipment to make online teaching and learning manageable.

He further revealed that Kyambogo University fits so well in the exhibition theme: Innovations for Current & Emerging Challenges & Opportunities under the COVID Pandemic because many innovations at Kyambogo are addressing the challenges and harnessing the opportunities that came as a result of COVID 19. “As a university, we are joining hands with the President and government to create wealth through modern agriculture methods and other interventions for a prosperous Uganda,” concluded Prof. Katunguka.