📷 Museveni impressed by innovations at Makerere exhibition

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni has praised Makerere University students for their innovations showcased at the university's Research and Innovations Week, which he officially opened on Tuesday (April 8).

He said it proves that the Ugandan academic community is awakening from its long slumber.

In his address at the Freedom Square grounds, Museveni said the lagging progress in science and technology was one of the main reasons Africa suffered colonial exploitation. 

The President appeared visibly impressed with the diverse innovations exhibited and as such, he thanked the university administration for responding to societal needs. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

He challenged Africans to overcome the inferiority complex that has historically made them vulnerable to "external aggressors", despite their capability to devise solutions to their own challenges. 

Museveni emphasized the need for human beings to leverage their superior cognitive abilities to harness technology and tame nature for development.

He also addressed recent criticisms regarding government funding allocations, specifically the 70 percent directed towards scientists. 

He said that while the arts are important, the nation must prioritize survival.

“Shakespeare will not heal someone who is dying. The arts will be more appreciated when the foundation of the country is secure," said Museveni.

"The fundamentals of life — shelter, food, locomotion, defence — are the basic needs of society. The more a society is able to tame and harness nature for its own benefit, the more prosperous that society will become.”

The President appeared visibly impressed with the diverse innovations exhibited and as such, he thanked the university administration for responding to societal needs. 

He promised to allocate more money for innovations and research "in the future”.

Enhanced collaboration

The message of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, was delivered by primary education state minister Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu.

She recognized Makerere University's century-long contribution as a beacon of knowledge, research, and leadership within Africa, highlighting its commitment to innovative teaching, learning, and service.

“With the establishment of the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund, the Government of Uganda has reaffirmed its dedication to investing in research that addresses our most pressing challenges and positions Uganda as a leader in innovation-driven development."

To maximize the impact of research outputs, the education minister urged for enhanced collaboration among academia, government, industry, and civil society. 

She emphasized that the week-long exhibition serves as a vital platform for fostering these collaborations, ensuring that research is translated into actionable policy and market-ready solutions.

Lorna Magara, the chairperson of the Makerere University Council, affirmed the university’s leadership in fostering local innovations that integrate the populace into a money economy — which by extension addresses the issue of unemployment.

Magara lauded the government's commitment to injecting sh30 billion annually into Makerere's Research and Innovations Fund, stating that it has expedited research efforts and bridged the gap between academia and various industry practitioners.

Makerere University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, attributed the institution’s ranking as the most impactful university in the community to the fund.

He said Makerere boasts over 500 products on the market that have emerged from their research endeavours, showcasing their dedication to improving the socioeconomic welfare of the people.

The Chancellor, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, reiterated the university's full alignment with the NRM's historical mission of building a self-sustainable economy through research and innovations, demonstrated by the remarkable solutions being exhibited at this week’s event.

Science minister Dr Monica Musenero called upon President Museveni to mandate that all procurements for vehicles for MPs, ministers, and all government agencies be sourced from Kiira Motors. 

Her argument is that this move would provide a ready market for the new local car production plant and foster its rapid growth.

Musenero said the same approach should also be applied to all domestically produced items developed by Ugandan researchers and innovators.

Below is a picture highlight from the function as taken by Vision Group's Eddie Ssejjoba

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