Govt targets 20,000 innovations to drive industrial growth

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The Ugandan government has set an ambitious target of generating at least 20,000 innovations every five years as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s transition into a science-led and industrialised economy.

The target is anchored in ongoing education and research reforms aimed at equipping young people with practical, problem-solving skills.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Monica Musenero, revealed this during a high-level engagement between the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance on Tuesday (March 17).

The meeting sought to identify areas of collaboration as government moves to leverage ICT as a key driver of economic growth under its broader ambition to build Uganda's economy ten-fold from $50b to $500b by 2040.

ICT, alongside tourism, mineral development and agro-industrialisation, has been identified as a critical growth sector.

During the engagement, which was also attended by stakeholders from the ICT and banking sectors, Musenero pointed to the recently revamped lower secondary curriculum as a key pipeline for nurturing innovators.

The curriculum emphasises application of knowledge rather than rote learning.

“Learners are now more focused on solving practical problems, which makes them more innovative,” she said.

According to the minister, this shift is expected to significantly increase the number of viable ideas emerging from schools, universities and innovation hubs across the country.

She said the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the education system — from primary to secondary level — has further strengthened the foundation for innovation.

“ICT is now almost universal in schools, and at secondary level it is examinable. This ensures learners develop the digital skills needed to innovate,” she said.

She also highlighted increased government investment in science-based university programmes, noting that most public universities are prioritising the establishment of science faculties to support research and development.

The minister emphasised that the 20,000-innovation target is not merely about numbers, but about producing solutions that address real national challenges and contribute to economic transformation.

“We are working with universities and other stakeholders to ensure that these innovations are practical, scalable and aligned to national development priorities,” she said.

Musenero added that ongoing reforms in post-secondary education—particularly the shift towards hands-on, practical training—will further strengthen Uganda’s innovation ecosystem.

The government, she said, is now focused on building a critical mass of innovators who can turn ideas into products and enterprises, ultimately creating jobs and boosting industrial growth.

Dr Amina Zawedde, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said government efforts to drive digital transformation are increasingly focused on linking education, innovation and industry.

She noted that the ministry has worked with partners such as the Uganda Communications Commission to expand digital access in schools, especially in rural areas.

“We have engaged schools in setting up computer labs, so you find that many schools, particularly in rural areas, now have these facilities,” she said, adding that students are becoming familiar with computers while teachers are being trained to upgrade their digital skills.

The government is also nurturing innovation among young people through competitions and hackathons, despite funding constraints.

“We put out calls for innovators with promising ideas and take them through a hackathon process to identify those that can be supported and developed into viable products,” explained Zawedde.

She highlighted that several digital systems currently used in government and public services are locally developed, including platforms under the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, the Parish Development Management Information System, and education management systems.

“There is a lot that we are doing to bridge the gap between schools, the innovation ecosystem and industry."