'Embrace innovation as a strategic direction for Uganda' — Prof Okwakol

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 16TH UGANDA HIGHER EDUCATION EXHIBITION 

It's the second day of the 16th Uganda Higher Education Exhibition at Gulu University, which is part of the higher education week activities that began with the 7th Annual Higher Education Conference at Acholi Inn in Gulu city on Monday.

Higher education state minister Dr John Chrysestom Muyingo opened the three-day exhibition, which is guided by the theme: 'Harnessing Innovations in Higher Education for Accelerated Economic Transformation.'

This is the third edition held at the regional level, after the 2024 and 2025 editions in Mbale (eastern Uganda) and Mbarara (western Uganda), respectively.

"Holding these events in the different regions strengthens the ability of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to make informed decisions about institutions, programmes and emerging opportunities," said Muyingo.

"It further provides an opportunity to education institutions to align innovations with local economic priorities, thereby accelerating regional economic transformation. It also reinforces the idea that higher education transformation is a national agenda, not a Kampala-centered initiative."

In her remarks, NCHE executive director Prof. Mary Okwakol said the Higher Education Week is aimed at raising awareness about higher education, providing "us with an invaluable platform to showcase the wealth of creative solutions, technologies, and research emerging from higher education institutions across Uganda".

She rallied all the stakeholders in the sector to embrace innovation as a strategic direction for Uganda.

"Let us use this exhibition to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and cultivate solutions that contribute to accelerated socio-economic transformation for the benefit of Uganda and the broader East African region".

On her part, NCHE chairperson Prof. Joy C Kwesiga said the exhibition presents an avenue to audit and monitor compliance of higher education institutions to activities related to research and innovations. 

"Without innovation, institutions risk becoming outdated, disconnected from societal needs, and unable to contribute meaningfully to economic and social transformation."

The chairperson's clarion call was for the exhibition to "inspire deeper collaboration among academia, government, and industry as we work together to translate research and innovation into practical solutions for Uganda’s development challenges".

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 THE NCHE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REMARKS   👇🏽

❝Our Chief Guest, the Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. Dr. J.C. Muyingo,
Hon. Members of Parliament present,
Chairperson and Members of Council present,
Members of Management of NCHE,
Vice Chancellors and Principals,
Political leaders of Gulu City present,
Staff of the Ministry of Education and Sports,
Staff of the National Council for Higher Education, 
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the National Council for Higher Education, I welcome you all to the 16th Annual Higher Education Exhibition.

In a special way, I would like to welcome our Chief Guest, Hon. Dr. J. C. Muyingo, the Minister of State for Higher Education. You are most welcome Hon. Minister. Your presence here is testament to your continued commitment to higher education in general, and your support to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in particular.

You will recall, Hon. Minister, that in 2023 you advised NCHE to start holding such events in the various regions of the country. I am pleased to inform you that we started with Mbale in Eastern Uganda in 2024, then moved to Mbarara in Western Uganda in 2025 and now in Gulu in Northern Uganda this year.

I am delighted to report that on Monday, the 23rd of March 2026, we kicked off this year’s higher education week activities with a conference at Acholi Inn Hotel. The deliberations from the conference are being carefully synthesized into a comprehensive report. The report will be formally submitted to the Ministry of Education and Sports to guide policy direction, strengthen institutional practices, and support the continued advancement of higher education in Uganda.

At the conference, the participants agreed among others, that there is need to strengthen partnerships with industry players in order to bridge the gap between academia and industry to ensure that graduates are equipped with relevant employable skills.

They further agreed that higher education institutions (HEIs) must move beyond theory to practical, solution-oriented teaching that addresses national and regional challenges. Consequently, there is urgent need to embrace competence-based education and training. They asserted that the research outputs should be translated into innovations, policies and community solutions in order to create real societal impact.

The Higher Education Week is a premier event on the NCHE calendar, aimed at raising awareness about higher education. It provides us with an invaluable platform to showcase the wealth of creative solutions, technologies, and research emerging from higher education institutions across Uganda.

During the three days dedicated to the exhibition, we will witness how innovations rooted in rigorous scholarship and strategic partnerships can drive economic growth, respond to societal needs, and position our nation more effectively in the rapidly changing global landscape.

This year’s theme, 'Harnessing Innovations in Higher Education for Accelerated Economic Transformation', was chosen to reflect a strategic focus on the role that innovations in higher education can play in driving sustainable economic development. The theme further reflects the move towards competence-based curricula and pedagogical reforms.

Honourable Minister and our distinguished participants, I have the pleasure of informing you that the National Council for Higher Education formulated the Research and Innovation Policy, and the Strategic Research and Innovations Agenda. These two are intended to guide and strengthen research and innovation in higher education institutions.

They provide a structured framework that promotes the generation, management, and utilisation of research and innovations in institutions. They further support the national development agenda by ensuring that higher education contributes directly to economic transformation through knowledge creation and technology development.

NCHE remains committed to strengthening the quality, relevance, and impact of higher education. Our regulatory role is guided by the conviction that education must be responsive to national priorities as contained in Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV. However, whereas we strive to harness innovations in higher education, there is need to devise solutions to the impediments, such as the limited financial resources and understaffing at NCHE and at institutions of higher education.

I want to thank you all for your dedication and participation in the different activities of the Higher Education Week.

I urge all the stakeholders present here today, to embrace innovation as a strategic direction for our country. Let us use this exhibition to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and cultivate solutions that contribute to accelerated socio-economic transformation for the benefit of Uganda and the broader East African region. 

I take this opportunity to appreciate the support from the Government of Uganda, without which NCHE would not have been able to execute its mandate. I also once again thank you, Honourable Minister, for the various forms of support you give to NCHE. I am equally grateful to the entire Ministry for the oversight role, especially the guidance given by the Honourable Minister of Education and Sports Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni. We are indeed grateful.

On behalf of Management and staff, I extend my sincere appreciation to Council for the continued guidance and support. I wish to thank all the institutions participating in this year’s exhibition for your dedication to showcasing innovations that will, no doubt, contribute to socio-economic transformation in Uganda. I urge you all to endeavor to translate the innovations into products for the market.

To the NCHE family, I am deeply grateful to each one of you for the hard work and passion you have invested in organising this exhibition. From planning to execution, your collaboration and resilience stood out. This accomplishment belongs to you, and I thank you for a job well done. In a special way, I commend the Organising Committee, led by the Director IRI, Dr. Nora Mulira, for your tireless efforts and teamwork, that have been instrumental in organising this event.

Thank you for your attention.

Professor Mary J. N. Okwakol
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
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