UGANDA | RESEARCH

An international research expert has said Uganda is not making the most of its research and is instead donating its data to the developed world.

Dr. David Sarfo Ameyaw, a Ghanaian-born US researcher, said this has left gaps in Uganda’s ability to solve local development problems.

“We have a lot of research institutions in this country, including the one from Makerere University," said Ameyaw, who heads the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED), an international think-tank that combines research and innovation.

David Ameyaw, president international center for Evaluation and Development. addressing journalists at Media Center in Kampala. (Photo by Jimmy Outa)

"Every day, a lot of research is going on, but if you and I go to Gulu or Masaka or anywhere else and talk to any household, almost every month, somebody is at their doorsteps collecting data," he said.

“They are asking them for their name, the number of chickens they have, and how many acres of land they have in their possession." But you ask yourself: with all this data that is being collected every day, how are we using it? What are the results and how is it affecting their livelihood?"

Ameyaw was speaking at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday ahead of an upcoming researchers’ conference in Kampala.

Dubbed Evidence to Action Conference 2022, the five-day event will get underway next week on September 26 and end on September 30.

It is being organized by Makerere University School of Public Health in conjunction with the Office of the Prime Minister and ICED.

It is one of the activities to commemorate Makerere University’s 100th anniversary.

“Africa has been subjected to a lot of data extraction," said Ameyaw.

"We think the Global North (Western world) is not only taking our oil and gold, but they are also taking information from the continent but are not giving anything back."

"In Africa, you can walk to any community and collect whatever information you want, and they will never see you again.”

Research to improve lives

Prof. Damalie Nakajanko is the principal of Makerere University School of Public Health.

Damalie Nakanjako, principal of Makerere University College of Health Sciences addressing journalists at Media Center in Kampala. (Photo by Jimmy Outa)

She said the upcoming conference will bring together “all stakeholders in the evidence value chain together to dialogue and learn from each other on how we can improve the lives of people on this continent."

“We want to come up with ways our mothers, brothers that are giving information can benefit from what they are giving,” said Nakanjako.

The conference will explore ways in which research done on the continent can help provide answers to problems facing Uganda and Africa as a whole. 

“Our aim and objective are to come up with the best way to use research to improve our lives," said Nakanjako.