Research and innovation should be at the forefront of university education, Makerere University vice chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has said.

"Teaching without research is not teaching: it is proper to have research lead in any form of teaching," he says.

The don has, therefore, asked the Government to fully concentrate on university education research and innovations if the country is to benefit from it.

According to him, the future will purely depend on research and innovations, which according to them, should be emphasized, especially at university levels.

Prof.Henry Alinaitwe,DVC-Finance & Administration and Chair of the Grant Administration and Management steering Committee (GAMSC)

Nawangwe has also rallied institutions to embrace research and innovations noting that the future will entirely depend on new innovations based on research. This, according to him, is the reason Makerere University is attempting to take the path of becoming a research-led institution.

Prof.Barnabas Nawangwe, VC Makerere (L) with Bruce Kabasa, Chair,Finance, Planning, Administration and Investment Committee Makerere University (FPAIC)

"Makerere aspires to position herself as a research-led university that integrates research, innovation and enterprise into a dynamic and productive continuum — a superhighway that enables the translation of research into tangible benefits and the delivery of innovations to the world; also striving to strengthen her research prominence by supporting original, innovative and impactful research and scholarship that promotes curiosity, creativity and social engagement/ collaboration," Nawangwe said.

Samuel Mugabi, Directorate of ICT making remarks on systems development at Makerere University

Nawangwe made the remarks on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, during the launch of the Grants Management System (MakGMS), a new development aimed at monitoring grants, especially research-related. The event took place at Makerere University main campus in Kampala.

Prof.Sylivia Nakimera Nanyonga Tamusuza, Head of Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU)

He added that the university raises a lot of funding towards research and innovation describing the institution as the "biggest research machine".

However, he pointed out that due to lack of information, especially in the public domain, several research developments end up undefended, especially when asked by funders which according to him, eventually drags them back.

"If we have the information but not out there to be known by the public, who can labour to defend it on our behalf? We need to make the system work because no one will make it for us. It is important to put in place efforts geared towards leveraging research and innovations," Nawangwe said.

He predicted that the next generation will purely be led by research, arguing that institutions of higher learning should be aimed at creating a better world for the future generations.

Bruce Kabasa, Chair, Finance, Planning, Administration and Investment Committee Makerere University (FPAIC) , the chief guest at the event

Output not equitable

Speaking at the same event, however, Bruce Kabasa, the chairperson of finance and planning, said resources incurred in the research developments should be reflected on the output which he said sometimes does not correlate.

He called on researchers to ensure that the efforts invested can be compatible with the outcome. This, he said is basic accountability which he said could attract more funding.

"Any dollar that comes to Makerere is now becoming the threat because it will leave with more other two or three dollars in the names of labour. It would be well with us if it was for the benefit of the entire university. It is sad that the disappearance at times does not show any reason for more funding," Kabasa said.

Govt research investments

In 2019, the Government committed a special Research and Innovation Fund (RIF) to public universities to the tune of shillings 30 billion per year to support the implementation of high-impact research and innovations.

The objective of the fund was to increase local generation of translatable research and scalable innovations that address key gaps required to drive Uganda’s development agenda.

Denis Wamala making a presentation and a demonstration of the Makerere University Grants Management system (MakGMS) before the official launch

Last year, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja revealed that since the Government had already committed itself to the improvement of the welfare of the scientists through the salary enhancement plan, one of the many avenues through which government could help the universities that are carrying out research and innovations is through availing the funds to facilitate them.