Govt gives scientists project funding
Sep 22, 2008
FIFTEEN science projects have been approved for funding under the President’s Excellence Award starting this year. The projects, drawn from government research institutions, universities and the private sector, join 12 others that the Government started funding last year.
By Anne Mugisa
FIFTEEN science projects have been approved for funding under the President’s Excellence Award starting this year. The projects, drawn from government research institutions, universities and the private sector, join 12 others that the Government started funding last year.
They were selected from 125 proposals in vetting process done by both local and international scientists.
The selected projects were announced at the end of the Science and Technology Initiative week which closed at the Serena International Conference Centre on Friday. They were announced by the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology.
The newly established Busitema University won the award for textiles engineering.
Makerere University won in several science fields like, crop research, cancer research quality surveying and accessing safe water. It also won in solar power development and ultraviolet radiation.
The National Crop Research Institute and the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARO) also won the award for different crop research fields and innovation.
Kyambogo University got the award to train mathematics and science teachers and open up distance e-learning. Other awards were jointly won by Makerere University and the Uganda Management Institute for the artificial catfish propagation.
Makerere, the National Crop Research Institute and NARO jointly won for Agricultural engineering and appropriate research into rice processing.
The science excellence award went to Prof. Nelson Sewankambo. Prof. George Otim Nape and Dr. Philippa Musoke were first runners up, while Dr. Andrew Kiggundu was the second runner up.
Sewankambo is a professor of medicine with extensive research in HIV/AIDS, Dr. Nape, a plant virologist and an agriculture expert, while Dr. Musoke is head of the Paedriatrics department at the Makerere University Medical School. Dr. Kiggundu is a researcher with NARO.
The Scientific Innovation Excellence Award went to Joseph Kavuma with Mohammed Katongole as the first runner-up and Richard Mayombwe emerging second runner-up.
Kavuma who holds a higher diploma in electrical engineering, excelled in designing and fabricating agro-tools. Among his tools were food processors and juice extractors.
Katongole has done fabrication of spare parts for industries, while Mayombwe has made affordable electrical appliances.
The Science and Technology Education Excellence Award winners were Prof. Elly Sabiiti with Prof. Adipala Ekwamu as the first runner-up.
The second runners-up were Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba and Prof. William Bazeterra Banage.
Sabiiti, a crop scientist, initiated courses in seed science and technology, eco-physiology and a masters degree in crop science.
Prof. Ekwamu is a plant pathologist.
Prof. Baryamureeba, a faculty dean at Makerere was recognised for his contribution in teaching computing, and information technology in Uganda.
Prof. Banage, a zoologist, was recognised for capacity building in zoology, ecology and environmental biology.
FIFTEEN science projects have been approved for funding under the President’s Excellence Award starting this year. The projects, drawn from government research institutions, universities and the private sector, join 12 others that the Government started funding last year.
They were selected from 125 proposals in vetting process done by both local and international scientists.
The selected projects were announced at the end of the Science and Technology Initiative week which closed at the Serena International Conference Centre on Friday. They were announced by the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology.
The newly established Busitema University won the award for textiles engineering.
Makerere University won in several science fields like, crop research, cancer research quality surveying and accessing safe water. It also won in solar power development and ultraviolet radiation.
The National Crop Research Institute and the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARO) also won the award for different crop research fields and innovation.
Kyambogo University got the award to train mathematics and science teachers and open up distance e-learning. Other awards were jointly won by Makerere University and the Uganda Management Institute for the artificial catfish propagation.
Makerere, the National Crop Research Institute and NARO jointly won for Agricultural engineering and appropriate research into rice processing.
The science excellence award went to Prof. Nelson Sewankambo. Prof. George Otim Nape and Dr. Philippa Musoke were first runners up, while Dr. Andrew Kiggundu was the second runner up.
Sewankambo is a professor of medicine with extensive research in HIV/AIDS, Dr. Nape, a plant virologist and an agriculture expert, while Dr. Musoke is head of the Paedriatrics department at the Makerere University Medical School. Dr. Kiggundu is a researcher with NARO.
The Scientific Innovation Excellence Award went to Joseph Kavuma with Mohammed Katongole as the first runner-up and Richard Mayombwe emerging second runner-up.
Kavuma who holds a higher diploma in electrical engineering, excelled in designing and fabricating agro-tools. Among his tools were food processors and juice extractors.
Katongole has done fabrication of spare parts for industries, while Mayombwe has made affordable electrical appliances.
The Science and Technology Education Excellence Award winners were Prof. Elly Sabiiti with Prof. Adipala Ekwamu as the first runner-up.
The second runners-up were Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba and Prof. William Bazeterra Banage.
Sabiiti, a crop scientist, initiated courses in seed science and technology, eco-physiology and a masters degree in crop science.
Prof. Ekwamu is a plant pathologist.
Prof. Baryamureeba, a faculty dean at Makerere was recognised for his contribution in teaching computing, and information technology in Uganda.
Prof. Banage, a zoologist, was recognised for capacity building in zoology, ecology and environmental biology.