Innovators urged to prioritise ethics in research and development

_________________

As Uganda seeks to harness innovation to drive economic growth, experts have cautioned that ethical considerations must guide technological advancements.

Dr Irene Nakiyimba, deputy principal at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), emphasised that ethics should form the foundation of innovation. She stated that standardisation, transparency, and accountability must be integral to the innovation process to produce high-quality, market-ready products.

Dr. Irene Nakiyimba, Deputy Principal at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) said that as Uganda’s innovation ecosystem continues to expand the country must not only focus on “what” is being developed but also on “how” it is being developed. (Courtesy photo)

“We need to implement critical checks and balances to promote standardised, quality research outputs that can compete both locally and internationally,” she said.

“Ethics fosters the right culture, and a positive culture yields high-quality products that can be marketed nationwide and beyond.”

Dr Nakiyimba made these remarks at the Applied Research and Innovation Symposium held on Saturday, July 12, at the National ICT Hub in Nakawa.

The event, organised by UICT in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, was themed: “The Vital Role of Ethics in Applied Research for Developing Innovative and Commercially Viable Products and Services.”

During the event, Nakiyimba urged innovators to prioritise ethical considerations throughout the research and development process to ensure responsible and sustainable innovation.

She shared that UICT has established an Applied Research and Innovation Integrity Framework designed to guide researchers on ethical conduct. The institution is currently reviewing this framework to ensure it addresses emerging challenges in the innovation landscape.

“It is insufficient to have a document outlining the dos and don'ts,” Nakiyimba noted.

“We also need mechanisms to measure compliance. Without accountability, the long-term goal of producing quality ICT knowledge products will be unattainable.”

She added that as Uganda’s innovation ecosystem continues to expand, the country must not only focus on “what” is being developed but also on “how” it is being developed, ensuring that all innovations are grounded in integrity, respect for rights, and social responsibility.

Gastervas Rutwara Mugume, head of the research and innovations unit at UICT, called on innovators to balance the need to publish their research with the importance of protecting their intellectual property.

“If you publish prematurely, isn’t your idea at risk of being stolen?” he asked.

“Once your innovation is in the public domain, it becomes vulnerable. That’s why we guide our innovators through a structured process, from ideation to prototyping, creating a minimum viable product, and then commercialisation, all while upholding transparency and ethical standards.”

Gastervas Rutwara Mugume, Head of the Research and Innovations Unit at UICT, called on innovators to balance the need to publish their research with the importance of protecting their intellectual property. (Courtesy photo)

He also emphasised the importance of fostering a strong research culture among students and faculty.

“We want to celebrate and highlight staff who have published,” he stated.

“Research can be a solitary endeavour; often, just a few individuals engage in it, so events like this help inspire others to join and strengthen the research community.”

Mugume added that the institution is encouraging students to publish their academic projects, noting that while previous hackathons have focused on commercialisation, there is now a growing understanding of the need to combine innovation with research dissemination.

Dr Grace Kamulegeya, a lecturer at the School of Computing and Information Technology at Makerere University, underscored key ethical concerns within Uganda’s innovation landscape, such as data protection, intellectual property rights, and responsible commercialisation.

Dr. Grace Kamulegeya, a lecturer at the School of Computing and Information Technology at Makerere University, underscored key ethical concerns within Uganda’s innovation landscape, such as data protection, intellectual property rights, and responsible commercialisation. (Courtesy photo)

“In Uganda, ethical issues surrounding data usage, privacy, and intellectual property theft are particularly pressing,” he said.

“We’ve observed situations where innovations are appropriated from their original creators, making commercialisation impossible. Even worse, some are pirated by external entities. Therefore, upholding ethical standards throughout the innovation pipeline is essential.”

Dr Kamulegeya urged institutions and innovators to focus on licensing, data protection policies, and transparent publication practices to safeguard individual rights and national interests.

The symposium brought together key stakeholders in Uganda's innovation ecosystem, including researchers, students, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, to discuss how ethical principles can guide the country’s evolution from a consumer of technology to a creator of cutting-edge products and services.

The forum is part of ongoing efforts to build capacity among stakeholders in Uganda’s applied research ecosystem. It also aligns with the government's broader objectives of promoting science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of socio-economic transformation under Vision 2040.