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President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated his government’s commitment to promote science and technology as one major way to enhance development across the country.

“NRM government will continue to support sciences because through scientific research, we are able to generate innovations and these innovations support industrial growth,” Museveni said.

He explained that the industries provide jobs and thus widening the country’s tax base, hence spurring socioeconomic transformation.

The President made the remarks in a speech read for him by the Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo during celebrations to mark 75-years of Bugema University on Sunday February 25, 2024.

The iinstitution was only training ministers of the church and teachers both in Luganda and English then.

The university celebrated the anniversary together with its sister schools including Bugeam Adventist Secondary School, Bugema Adventist Vocational secondary school and Bugema Adventist Primary School which were started at the same time. 

President Museveni said the country has benefited a lot from universities through, science, innovations and research. He was glad to note that Bugema university is promoting Science and Technology.

He congratulated the University for offering quality education to students and thus playing apart in the development of Uganda.

“I therefore, congratulate Bugema University for having curved a niche in techno-sciences which resonates very well with the government’s effort in promoting science and technology,” he said.

Museveni said as the country continues moving through the fourth industrial revolution, with the developments in the ICT sector, cloud computing technologies, and artificial intelligence, higher education institutions such as Bugema University have a key role to play in conducting relevant research and coming up with innovations that support industrial growth, thereby spurring transformation through the creation of more jobs.

He explained that as per Uganda’s Vision 2040, the education sector operates in an environment that is gearing up to transforming the country into a middle-income country.

The President said the Uganda is steadily improving its performance in key human development indicators related to education and training so as to prepare the workforce for a dynamic labor market that requires an appropriate mix of increasingly sophisticated cognitive and technical skills where the large majority of jobs are outside agriculture and the informal sector. 

He appreciated the sacrifices and efforts of all the different stakeholders in contributing to the progress and success of Bugema University and contributed sh20m towards the construction of the Science Complex at the university main campus in Bugema in Luweero district to promote science education.

He asked the university to provide a bill of quantities for the entire science complex. It is estimated at sh3b.

The Vice President in her own capacity congratulated Bugema University and its sister institutions upon commemoration of 75 years of unwavering dedication to excellence.

“Celebrating 75 years means a sustainable future for the Adventist church and a clear demonstration that in Uganda today one can invest and make a big projection about the way generations can benefit from the investment for this matter education,” Alupo said.

Alupo contributed sh10m towards construction of the science block and thanked everyone for all contributions made towards completion of the complex.

(Courtesy photo)

Complex. (Courtesy photo)

She lauded the church for making Bugema community a one-stop centre and putting God first in everything they do.

The University Chancellor who is also the Archbishop of the Seventh-day Adventists Church in Uganda, Pr Dr. Moses Maka told the gathering who turned up for the celebrations that Bugema institutions have trained tens of thousands of learners who are out there contributing to the development of their countries in different fields.

The institutions are seated on a 640-acre piece of land. The university was granted a charter in 2007.

He lauded government for continued support to Bugema University, its sister institutions and as the Adventist church as a whole.

The university vice chancellor Dr. Israel Kafeero thanked everyone who participated in all the activities as Bugema community marked 75 years including the marathon, football gala and fundraising dinner among others. 

The ceremony was attended by the ECD president Dr. Pr. Blasious Ruguri who gave the key note address, Minister of state for Planning Amos Lugolobi, MP Robert Ssekitoleko among other guests.