Gov't told to fund for research

Jun 12, 2019

Prof. Nelson Sewankamb said most of the research that is done in Uganda is not funded by internal sources

 
 
Scientists have expressed concern over the limited allocations of funds for research by the government.
 
Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, a Professor of medicine at Makerere University College of Health Sciences said most of the research that is done in Uganda is not funded by internal sources but it is rather funded by external donors.
 
"This country is investing very little in research and when you do not invest in the research yourself, it is very difficult to control or to decide what kind of research to be done. I have done research for the last 30 years but I have never got money from the government yet I do research at all time," Sewankambo said.
 
He, however, explained that the resources for research are got after competing with researchers in the UK, Germany, South Africa, and India, adding that this shows there is expertise. Sewankambo, therefore, appealed to the government to allocate more resources to research.
 
Speaking during a THRive PRE-AGM Scientific citizenship workshop in Kampala, Sewankambo called on researchers to engage policymakers when carrying out research right from the beginning.
 
He said researchers may not be engaging policymakers early enough, and yet it is important to involve them so that they appreciate what is going to be researched on and be part of the process.
 
Sewankambo attributed the good policies done in Uganda to expertise in research which contributes to good policies.
 
"Many of Ugandans are invited to other countries as experts to advise on something when they go there, they do a wonderful job and come out with good policies and guidelines which are implemented in those countries," he said
 
Dr. David Okello, the director Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Healthy Ageing at the African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation said although Uganda has good policies, most of them are implemented by some of our neighbouring countries. "Our neighbours have picked up our ideas and they are running them," Okello said
 
He implored researchers to try as much as possible to get what policymakers want so that they can influence them.
 
Sewankambo, however, advised that in order to implement policies, there is a need for more resources so that the policies are applied and added that if the resources are limited then the policies cannot be executed.

 

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