General
Mak staff recommend training on intellectual property and its benefits
Ignited by the knowledge and information tips received during the training workshop, participants advised Makerere University Directorate of Research and Graduate Training and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau to undertake a University wide sensitization programme on intellectual property and its benefits.
“The training workshop has been very useful. It has demystified the idea that intellectual property is complex. We can now testify that intellectual property is very simple. With the knowledge, research and innovations that we generate and/or undertake, the University, researchers and innovators will mutually benefit. We thank the Makerere University Directorate of Research and Graduate Training and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau for the training on intellectual property and its benefits. We recommend that the sensitization programme is extended to staff and students at College level.”
The participants comprising Makerere University Senior Management, Senior Researchers, Principals, Deputy Principals, Deans, Directors, Heads of Units and Staff from the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training emphasized that when staff and students are sensitized on intellectual property and its benefits, the University will be in position to build capacity in intellectual property management, establish intellectual management committees at Unit levels, and explore possibilities of teaching intellectual property management as a cross cutting course.
Addressing the participants on Thursday 7th July 2016, the Director of Research and Graduate Training at Makerere University, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi thanked Uganda Registration Services Bureau for choosing to partner with Makerere University to create awareness on intellectual Property and its benefits; and identification of areas of collaboration aimed at promoting intellectual property in Makerere University and Uganda at large.
Professor Buyinza Mukadasi said the sensitization programmes on intellectual property and its benefits that will be rolled out to different colleges will provide an opportunity for staff and students to understand and appreciate the sections contained in the Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Policy approved by the University Council in March 2008.
“When staff fully understands the Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Policy, they will be able to appreciate the relevance and value of their work. The Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Policy is intended to promote innovative ideas and nurture them for full potential of development and commercialization,” he said.
Prof. Buyinza Mukasasi commended the partnership with Uganda Registration Services Bureau. He emphasized that it is only through formal registration that the University shall transform the science into technologies that can be beneficial to the society and the wider public.
The Director of Intellectual Property Right at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Ms. Fiona Bayiga reiterated their commitment to supporting Makerere University in intellectual property management.
“We are really humbled to be here for this training and we promise to continue offering all possible support to Makerere University when we are called upon. We are aware that Makerere has a policy on Intellectual Property Management. We are therefore prepared to support Makerere University in realizing the implementation of this policy,” she said.
Intellectual property rights are the rights given to persons over the creation of their minds. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.
In a presentation, the Senior Registration Officer-Intellectual Property at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Mr. Kalibbala Nyanja Philip highlighted that Intellectual Property ensures that creativity from the human mind is recognised and rewarded.
“The concept of Intellectual Property also requires that those who create benefit. Let the minds that have gone into creativity and innovation get rewarded for it. There should be a commercial benefit. So Intellectual Property encourages societies to CREATE, RECOGNIZE AND BENEFIT,” he said.
Speaking on patent right, the Senior Examiner- Patent at Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Mr. Kaggwa John Marius encouraged Makerere University staff to patent/register their innovations and creative ideas. This would protect individuals from commercially exploiting their work for at least a certain period of time. According to Mr. Kaggwa, by granting the inventor a temporary monopoly in exchange for a full description of how to perform the invention, patents play a key role in developing industry in the world.
“A patent is an exclusive right given by law to inventors to make use of and exploit their inventions for a limited period of time usually not more than 20 years. Once the owner of an invention has been granted a patent in any particular country, they have the legal authority to exclude others from making, using, or selling the claimed invention in that country without their consent, for a fixed period of time. In this way, inventors can prevent others from benefiting from their ingenuity and ultimately sharing profits from the invention, without their permission for a certain period of time. When this period expires, the public has the liberty to exploit the invention without authorization,” he explained.
Mr. Kaggwa also advised Makerere University staff on the role of the Technological and Innovations Support Centers (TISC). “Technological and Innovations Support Centers were designed to provide to innovators and researchers in developing countries with access to higher education, quality technological information and other related services in order to stimulate economic growth.”
The training workshop was held on Thursday 7th July 2016 at Makerere University.
Article by: Makerere University Public Relations Office
By Bernard Buteera
On Saturday 2nd December 2023, all roads led to Achukudu Community Primary School in Napak District, Karamoja sub-region, as the Scholars and Alumni of Mastercard Foundation at Makerere University commemorated their Scholars’ Annual Day of Community Service (Giveback). The 2023 Scholars Annual Day of Community Service was held at Achukudu Community Primary School, Napak District in the Karamoja sub-region. Established in 2013, Achukudu Community School serves two ethnic communities—The Iteso and Karamojong.
With a total population of 1,907 pupils only three government-paid teachers, and nine community-paid teachers, the School faces a plethora of challenges. Key among the challenges is the lack of Classrooms, decent Ventilated Pit Latrines, and Desks. Therefore when the Scholars identified the School as one that deserved to be given a gift of a classroom block, it was a befitting choice!
The Scholars with support from the alumni, the Program Team, Members of the Steering Committee, and partners of the Scholars Program at Makerere University intervened by constructing a two-classroom block, which was supervised by one of the alumni who is an Engineer. Alongside the classroom block, the Scholars also provided 40 desks, helping the school meet UNEB Center eligibility criteria.
While presiding over the event, the area member of Parliament, Hon. John Bosco Ngoya, thanked the Scholars and alumni community at Makerere University for supporting the young pupils of Achukudu Primary School and the entire community by gifting them with a two-classroom block.
“Thank you Scholars and alumni of Mastercard Foundation at Makerere University for the Christmas gift of a classroom block to the young people and the entire community of Achukudu. This classroom block will go a long way in improving the learning environment of the young children of Achukudu primary school.” Hon. Ngoya pointed out.
Hon. Ngoya called upon other people to emulate the Scholars and alumni of the Mastercard Foundation in embracing the spirit of giving back to the vulnerable people in the community. On his part, he donated One Million Five hundred shillings (1,500,000/=) to help the School purchase more desks, and he had earlier contributed One million shillings (1,000,000/=) towards the construction of the classroom block.
The District Education Officer (DEO) for Napak District, Ms. Joyce Nakoya, praised the Scholars Community for embracing and practicing the spirit of giving back to other people at an early age.
“Thank you Scholars and alumni of the Mastercard Foundation at Makerere for embracing the spirit of giving back to other people at such an early age. If all people gave back to the less privileged in our communities, we would have a better world for everyone.” Ms. Nakoya pointed out.
Ms. Nakoya further pointed out every child deserves to study in a decent environment, therefore it was a befitting cause for the Scholars to construct a classroom block for the young pupils of Achukudu community primary school, who were studying in open grass thatched classrooms.
The Program Manager of, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Ms. Jolly Okumu who led the team of Scholars, alumni, and staff to Karamoja thanked the community of Achukudu for supporting the Scholars to deliver the class block by contributing to the construction sand.
“We come here today to join with you as a community driven by a shared commitment to education, empowerment, and ethos of giving back. Today is a historic occasion as we celebrate the completion and commissioning of the classroom block, which is a remarkable testament to the transformative power of education and our unwavering spirit of community service.” Ms. Jolly remarked.
The President of the Scholars Association, Mr. Godfrey Okello, thanked all the Scholars and alumni, and all stakeholders who contributed to the construction of the classroom block, which was a dream that became a reality.
“I would like to thank my colleagues and people of goodwill who supported us to realize our dream of constructing this classroom for our young brothers and sisters of Achukudu Primary School. Together we can make a difference in the lives of our fellow young people in Uganda and Africa as a whole.” Mr. Okello remarked.
The Headteacher of the School, Mr. Eryebu Raymond, who was visibly very excited was full of praises for Scholars and alumni of the Mastercard Foundation, for what he termed as an iconic classroom block they had gifted to his School.
“This day is very special to us, we will not see this day again. We are delighted to receive the Scholars and alumni of Mastercard Foundation from Makerere University, thank you for considering supporting our School” Mr. Eryebu excitedly remarked.
The Headteacher revealed that one of the major challenges the school was facing was an acute shortage of classrooms for his 1,097 pupils. He was therefore grateful to Mastercard Foundation Scholars for choosing to construct a two-class block for the School.
“This donation of a classroom block and Desks is a testament to your commitment to education and empowering the lives of the vulnerable people in the community. This classroom block and desks will go a long way in improving the quality of teaching and learning at our school.” Mr. Eryebu further remarked.
The 2023 Scholars Annual Day of Community Service (Giveback) was punctuated with a lot of joy, pomp, and fanfare, as the pupils and the entire community of Achukudu danced and ululated at the commissioning of the classroom block. The construction of the classroom block and purchase of desks for Achukudu Community Primary School was made possible by generous contributions by the Scholars, alumni, the Program Team, and members of the Steering Committee.
Among the Partners who made financial contributions towards the class block construction included; DFCU Bank, Post Bank, URA, Katumba Estates, Footsteps Furniture Ltd, and Sion Travels Ltd.
The Scholars and Alumni Day of Community Service (Give back) is an annual event, where Scholars and alumni of the Mastercard Foundation go out into the community to give back by providing solutions to challenges that a particular community is facing. Over the years Scholars have given back to the communities in numerous ways that range from offering professional services and erecting major projects like classroom blocks.
Bernard Buteera is the Communications and Public Relations Officer of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
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