Innovation
Mak, UNDP, MTN Partner to Showcase Youth Innovation
On 25th April 2023, Makerere University in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and MTN Uganda officially launched the Youth and Innovation Expo 2023.
The Youth and Innovation Expo 2023 will be held under the theme, “Fostering Innovation for Uganda’s Transformational Development,” in an effort to showcase outstanding youth innovations and youth enterprises.
The Youth and Innovation Expo 2023 is aimed at:
- Showcasing innovative social interventions and development approaches to accelerate the attainment of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs in Uganda,
- Demonstrating the potential to commercialize youth innovations for job creation and livelihoods generation,
- Providing an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of Makerere University and UNDP to Uganda’s development journey,
- Equipping young people with information, knowledge, and skills in sustainable entrepreneurship, employability, and health, and
- Facilitating the creation of new partnerships and networks between like-minded individuals who are passionate about innovation for impact through mutually beneficial backward and forward linkages.
In attendance, were Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson, Makerere University Council and Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance and Administration and members of Top Management, representatives from the UNDP led by the Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, representatives from MTN Uganda led by the Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Somdev Sen, representatives from House of Djs, Faculty, a number of Youth involved in research and Innovations and members of the press.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, who also doubles as Principal, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) expressed elation at witnessing the launch of a Youth and Innovation Expo, as CEDAT is one of the centres for innovation in the University. He noted, that Uganda has a fast-growing Youth population and it is imperative that we create spaces in which the Youth can be empowered for Job creation as we strive to achieve Uganda’s development Agenda. He further shared that, this Youth and Innovation Expo, will be the beginning of a fruitful and mutually beneficial space for the Youth and all collaborating stakeholders.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, in her address, appreciated the timeliness of the Youth and Innovation Expo. She said that whereas it was tempting to sit back and glory in Makerere’s achievements over the last 100 years, there is an urgent need keep innovating, lest the myriad of challenges wipe out all the gains made to date.
She noted that Makerere’s ten-year strategic plan, currently in its third year of implementation, sets out to respond to present and emerging challenges through four overarching goals, namely: A research-led university responding to national, regional, and global development challenges; Innovations in teaching and learning that respond to the changing environment; An engaged university with enhanced partnerships with industry, the community, and international institutions; and A professionally governed, equitable, inclusive and gender mainstreamed institution.
“In this regard, we are committed to gradually increasing our engagement with industry, business, and other research users, to develop a framework for packaging and marketing, and research outputs for appropriate adoption and adaptation.
“The Youth and Innovation Expo 2023 we are launching today is a platform to cause meaningful engagement between the youth and various actors to tap into their expertise and experience” reiterated Mrs. Magara.
Ms. Elsie Attafuah noted that the Expo builds on several other initiatives in the UNDP Uganda Country Programme 2021 – 2025 to nurture innovation in Uganda such as:
- Firstly, supporting the creation of an enabling policy, legal, and regulatory environment. For instance, UNDP is partnering with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance to position digitalization at the heart of Uganda’s development agenda;
- Secondly, partnering with Makerere University to establish a University Innovation Pod under UNDP’s Timbuktu initiative;
- Thirdly, collaborating with the Government and private sector actors to foster e-governance and e-commerce as a mechanism to improve service delivery in both the public and private sectors;
- Fourthly, fostering innovation through its Accelerator Lab – a dedicated learning network of 91 labs supporting 115 countries to re-imagine development in the 21st century and find radically new approaches and pioneer new solutions to complex development challenges; and
- Fifthly, nurturing innovation through the UNDP Youth4Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Facility initiative
“I am hopeful that our collective ingenuity will foster innovation and youth empowerment as well as contribute to accelerating Uganda’s progress towards the attainment of the SDGs whilst ensuring that no one is left behind. “To the media, we recognise your potential to drive change and to innovate. We are proud to call many of you here today our partners and look forward to forging stronger partnerships with you to foster innovation that is not only necessary but will result in increased decent jobs and dignified livelihood opportunities for most especially the youth” concluded Ms. Attafuah.
Makerere University through its Innovation Pod (UniPod) hosted a delegation from the Belgian Embassy in Uganda, accompanied by representatives from ENABEL and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on September 1, 2025. The visit included a tour of all ten maker spaces at the UniPod, offering guests a first-hand experience of Makerere’s vibrant innovation ecosystem.
Speaking on behalf of the Belgian Embassy, the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development Cooperation, Mr. Michel Dewez, who arrived in Uganda only a month ago, expressed delight at visiting Makerere for the first time. He commended the university for its well-organized approach to innovation, noting that the delegation was impressed by the creative processes underway. He added that the tools and instruments available at the UniPod not only support students but also extend benefits to the wider community.
Representatives from ENABEL described the UniPod as an “impressive and inspiring place” for their very first external engagement. They applauded Makerere not just for generating innovative ideas but also for translating them into tangible businesses already creating jobs. Congratulating the hosts, they highlighted the shared belief in innovation as a pathway to addressing challenges, creating employment, and empowering young people, particularly women. They equally expressed ENABEL’s readiness to actively seek future opportunities for synergy and collaboration.
The Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, Mr. Ian King, also praised the creativity on display, emphasizing UNDP’s strong commitment to innovation and progress. He noted that with Africa being the youngest continent, innovation is vital in addressing its pressing challenges. He expressed admiration for Makerere’s success in translating academic ideas into applicable solutions and called for the scaling of the most promising innovations through partnerships with the private sector and investors. Mr. King reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to Makerere, stressing that the organization views itself not as a donor but as a facilitator helping to identify ideas, merge solutions, and support partners in scaling them despite a challenging global financial context.
On behalf of the University, the Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships, Prof. Robert Wamala extended a warm welcome to the guests. He expressed gratitude to the Belgian Embassy delegation, as well as UNDP and ENABEL representatives for their unwavering support towards Uganda’s development. He described the Innovation Pod as a hub where students, researchers, and innovators transform ideas into solutions for pressing societal needs. Prof. Wamala emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda aligns closely with Belgium’s focus areas, including climate change, agriculture, health systems strengthening, digitalization, gender equity, youth employment, and governance. He further noted the importance of linking innovators at Makerere with regional and international counterparts to foster collaboration, digital learning, and scaling of innovations.
The Assistant Manager of the UniPod, Dr. Margaret Nagwovuma introduced the Innovation Centre and its mandate. Established in 2020 under the Office of the Vice Chancellor, the Centre seeks to translate research outputs into commercial projects, focusing on ideation, protection, commercialization, and scaling of innovations. She added that the unit transitioned into an Innovation Pod in 2024 with support from UNDP and established ten maker spaces, including a studio used for recording lectures and presentations. She highlighted that the Centre is evolving into the Makerere University Technology and Innovation Centre (MUTIC), with a vision of enhancing commercialization and industry linkages to promote sustainable industrialization. Dr. Nagwovuma further emphasized inclusivity, highlighting programs designed to support students, staff, industry partners, the private sector, and marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities and refugees.
During the tour, the delegation interacted with innovators who showcased their solutions. One of the highlights was a researcher who has developed a clinically tested malaria syrup effective against resistant strains. Already recognized internationally in Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, and the UK, the innovation is progressing through advanced clinical trials and is seeking industry partnerships for commercialization. Another innovator, Ms. Rebecca, a Bachelor of Science in Palliative Care student and founder of Alpha My Africa, presented reusable menstrual packs designed to address menstrual poverty. Her initiative has already reached 300 girls in five schools across Wakiso and Mityana districts and is training 30 youth to replicate the work in their communities.
The visit reaffirmed Makerere University’s position as a hub for transformative ideas and meaningful partnerships. By opening its doors to international collaborators and development partners, the UniPod continues to drive inclusive, youth-led innovation that responds to Uganda’s needs and contributes to global progress.
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