Uganda gets first humanoid robot

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Uganda has taken a bold step into the future of technology with the unveiling of its first functional humanoid robot, developed by ISBAT University.

The landmark achievement, a first for the country and possibly the region, represents a significant leap in the integration of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education.

The robot was officially launched on Tuesday during a ceremony at ISBAT University’s main campus in Kampala.

The event was presided over by State Minister for Planning, Amos Lugoloobi, who praised the university’s commitment to innovation.

The unveiling also marked the introduction of a new Bachelor of Engineering in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence—a program ISBAT believes is among the first of its kind in Uganda.

“Today, we’ve launched a functional robot here at ISBAT University. I understand this is the first of its kind in the country—perhaps even in the region,” said Varghess Mundamattam, Chairman of ISBAT University.

“This is part of our broader strategy to build capacity in high-performance computing, AI, and robotics engineering.”

The humanoid robot was imported as a semi-knockdown kit (SKD)—a partially assembled system that requires local construction, programming, and testing. The task of assembling and programming the robot was undertaken by the university’s own faculty and students, making the project as much a learning experience as a technological achievement.

“It’s not just about buying hardware. The real value is in the effort our students and faculty invested to make it fully functional,” Mundamattam said.

“They began with small prototypes before scaling up to the humanoid robot, applying their AI knowledge every step of the way.”

The robot is now fully operational and can be deployed in multiple sectors, including education, customer service, and presentations. It can deliver lectures, conduct workshops, and perform as a subject matter expert when programmed accordingly.

While the exact cost of the project was not disclosed, Mundamattam acknowledged that it required substantial financial and technical investment. However, he credited government cooperation with making the project more feasible.

“We were fortunate to work with tax authorities and receive some relief on import duties, recognizing the educational value of this initiative,” he said.

“But even with that support, this has been a major investment in terms of time, expertise, and resources.”

Rethinking education as export

ISBAT University, founded in 2005, has rapidly evolved into one of Uganda’s premier private institutions. With students from 24 countries across four continents, the university sees international education as a potential source of foreign exchange for Uganda.

“Education should be recognised as an export service,” Mundamattam said.

“When students come here from abroad, they bring foreign exchange into the country. That’s why we believe the education sector—especially institutions with global reach—should benefit from targeted tax exemptions.”

No threat to jobs

Amid growing concerns globally that AI and robotics could lead to job losses, Mundamattam emphasised that the university’s robotics initiative is designed to complement, not replace, human labor.

“This is not about cutting jobs. Every robot requires a team of people behind it—designing, building, programming, and maintaining it,” he said.

“The future is not robots replacing people, but humans and AI working together.”

Following this successful launch, ISBAT plans to expand the robot’s capabilities and explore additional applications in fields such as healthcare, education, and customer service.

“This is just the beginning,” Mundamattam said.

“We are committed to continuing the development of cutting-edge technologies in Uganda—developed by our students, for our future."