Limited funding forcing more researchers to leave the country
Mar 16, 2018
Gibson Kibike a professor of medicine said there is a need to mentor more young scientists in the region.

Majority of Ugandan researchers have left the country to work abroad because of a lack of funding, Dr. Jane Kengeya-Kayondo, a senior science programme manager Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) has disclosed.
She noted that during the African Union Heads of State Summit, leaders pledged to commit one per cent of each country's GDP to research, but nonot any support has been received
She said that policy and implementation budgets never include an element for research adding that research is the engine for any country's development.
"We need to advocate for research funding since every sector needs research,'' Kayondo said.
It is against this background that they have organised a three days grant writing skills training such that they can generate more resources for themselves. The training organised by AREF attracted participants from Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali Sudan and Chad.
During a three days' workshop in Entebbe, the director Uganda National Health Research Organisation, Dr. Sam Okware said some of the research is not used adding that there is a need to get a platform where research findings can be transformed into effective interventions.
Gibson Kibike a professor of medicine said there is a need to mentor more young scientists in the region.
Recently, a Ugandan scientist won sh180m ($50,000) for his pioneering home-grown technology for recycling motor vehicle engine oils to protect the environment.
Geoffrey Ssekatawa, the founder of Brent Technologies, was one of 12 recipients of the Africa Entrepreneurship Award set up three years ago to support the continent's promising ideas.
Ssekatawa's start-up aims at stopping the harmful dumping and burning of used motor oils and instead create recycled oil products for sale in Uganda.
His innovation will help ensure that the waste motor oil, which would otherwise end up in landfills, water sources or burnt into the atmosphere, is instead recycled and made usable.