Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Hon. Dr. Musenero Monica Masanza has urged Universities to build stronger linkages and focus on specialization to harness science, technology and innovations in transforming Uganda. 

Speaking to representatives of over 50 Universities during the Uganda Vice Chancellor’s Forum held at Makerere University on Friday 11^th March 2022, Hon. Musenero emphasized that the Head of State, H.E President Yoweri K.T. Museveni envisions Universities playing a fundamental role in delivering a science driven economy, social development and industrialization.

In the same spirit, Hon. Musenero has a strong conviction that universities that create, generate and disseminate knowledge have a crucial role to determine the destiny of a country. “I am here to dialogue and mobilise all of us to rise and harness the vast resources, knowledge and talent in universities. If you impact on universities, you will have quicker interventions,” she remarked.

She however noted the need to change the mindset of leaders and staff in Universities including the way of conducting business if universities are to measure up to the task as well as expectations. For instance, universities should play a central role in addressing poverty and underdevelopment. She highlighted that this strategic direction can only be realized if universities come up with deliberate efforts to link research and innovations to national development.This should be coupled with formation of think tanks at universities with linkages to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations under the Office of the President.

Additionally, Universities should reposition themselves and align several programmes to national development. “I would request that all universities craft a course, maybe one course credit unit or two but in the first year of study to teach the national development plan.” Hon. Musenero said she would be happy to be among the people who would be willing to take part in lecturing students on the national development plan. 

If students are taught and understand the national development plan, she said they can be part of the force that is working tirelessly to transform Uganda from a peasant to a modern country in the next three decades.

Hon. Musenero told representatives of universities that her ministry has aligned science, technology and innovation systems and come up with an ecosystem that is focusing on improving industrial value chains. “We want to create a science, technology and innovation ecosystem that facilitates rapid movement of things along the value chain,” she said. If Uganda is to transform, Musenero said universities should focus on research that will help farmers to increase farm productivity.

Instead of focusing on competition, the Minister advised universities to focus on specialised teaching and research and then create strong linkages in which they can benefit from each other. 

“How can we make relays? I have been to different universities and found that we are not connected to each other. We may have some MoUs but they are not being implemented. Makerere has certain technologies that could fit into Ndejje and then Ndejje has certain things that could fit into Busitema. If we can create that free flow, then all of us are going to be succeeding together,” Hon. Musenero remarked.

On teaching technology and innovation, the Minister said universities should teach the business of innovation and business opportunities that the science industry presents to Uganda. For instance, Hon. Musenero said she has been to several universities where she found that some of the innovations lack business plans. 

On teaching, Hon. Musenero gave an example of the pharmaceutical industry which is one of the three big global industries.  Whereas universities teach pharmacy, the Minister said they are not teaching the business opportunities that the sector presents for Uganda. 

“You can hardly find in our pharmacy curriculum anyone teaching students how to industrialise around pharmaceuticals. We teach them how to use, how to dispense, to regulate, etc. We don’t teach them how to develop, how to manufacture, or how to develop business around them. We are turning that around,” she said.

In the execution of her Ministry’s mandate, Hon. Musenero will concentrate on working with universities to harness the vast resources, proiritise strategic communication and science communication, evolution of think tanks and community engagements.

Hon. Musenero is optimistic that in the financial year 2022/2023, she will focus on taking science, technology and innovations to the market.