Health
The Sugar That Killed My Mother: A Generation Drowning in Cheap Drinks, Cigarettes and Lies
On October 15, 2021, the beep of a glucose monitor flatlined in our living room. My mother, Rebecca Nabiteeko (R.I.P.), took her last labored breath as her veins, swollen, burning, and numb, finally surrendered to a decade-long siege by diabetes. Her final days were a cruel liturgy: mornings began with insulin injections, and nights ended with prayers to a God who never answered. “Nsaba Yezu, mpone obulwadde bwa sukaali,” she prayed for deliverance from the sugar sickness. The same sickness that caused numbness of her feet, then her sleep, and finally her life. I miss her.
In our little cramped Kyebando-Kisalosalo home, medication such as pregabalin, Metformin, and Insulin Mixtard—became part of the day’s meals and everyday companions as relatives. We memorized their shapes: the amber vials crowding the dining table, the syringes tucked like shrapnel in drawer corners. Her body was a battleground. Her faith, a fragile ceasefire.
Her story is not unique. It is now becoming every household’s and a Ugandan story. Our country is under attack! While HIV, cholera, and malaria dominate headlines, a quieter killer stalks Uganda: non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer now claim 1 in 3 lives, eclipsing infections as the nation’s grim reaper.
“Our clinics are grappling with constant drug stockouts. For hypertension, diabetes, and asthma medications, funding covers just 2% of the actual needs,” reveals Dr. Freddie Ssengooba, a professor of health economics at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH).
In one of the Health Policy Advisory Committee (HIPAC) meetings of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, where key stakeholders gather, a concerning reality about medicine availability was shared.
In schools, teenagers trade 500-shilling cigarettes like sweets. In markets, soda and unregulated sweetened juices flow cheaper than clean water. Uganda’s health system, already strained by several public health issues, is buckling under the NCD surge. “80% of the early 335 COVID-19 deaths in Uganda had NCD comorbidities as an underlying condition,” stated Dr. Eric Segujja, a public health systems researcher, while coronary heart disease, once rare in Africa, now claims 12% of Uganda’s disease burden.
This is a plague of policy, profit, and paralysis, a war where lobbyists outgun public health advocates and sugar drowns out science. My mother didn’t just die of diabetes. She died in a system that incentivizes manufactured epidemics while pushing back on public health responses.
At a dissemination meeting on the political economy analysis of health taxes on unhealthy commodities in Uganda at Kabira Country Club in Kampala in late January this year, Dr. Ssengooba emphasized that, “When discussing NCDs, we need to be very practical.”
Adding that, “Currently, we rely heavily on a few donors and pharmaceutical companies, who provide us with a set of donated drugs each year. If these donors begin to reduce their support, similar to what we’re seeing with the US in the coming days, we will face even greater challenges. This is a critical issue: as we talk about NCDs, there’s no provision within the national budget to address medicine shortages. While there are healthcare professionals trained to manage these diseases, they may end up advising patients to purchase medicines from pharmacies—something that’s not affordable for many, especially those without financial means.”
The culprits? Cheap, sophisticated distribution channels and aggressively marketed unhealthy commodities. For instance, between 2015 and 2023, beer production rose by 42%, soft drinks by 67%, and cigarette sales surged despite taxes.
A presentation titled “Impact of Taxation on the Production, Sales, Revenue, and Consumption of Selected Unhealthy Commodities in Uganda: A Nine-Year Analysis” reveals a significant increase in the production of non-alcoholic beverages, particularly sugar-sweetened drinks, over the years. The highest production levels in the country were recorded during the 2022/2023 financial year. Richard Ssempala a Makerere University lecturer at the School of Economics and a current PhD candidate at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan, who is also one of the researchers, attributes this growth to the rise in the number of factories and small-scale firms entering the market, coupled with low tax rates on these commodities.
Are Health Taxes, a “Best Buy,” Stalled by Competing Interests?
The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks among its top “Best Buys” to curb NCDs. Yet in Uganda, implementation faces fierce resistance. Dr. Henry Zakumumpa, a health systems and NCDs researcher at Makerere University, says industry lobbyists have impressed upon government technocrats, people, and commissioners at the Uganda Revenue Authority that when you increase taxes, then there will be distortion of the economy due to low consumption and the government won’t get those taxes, which he says is not true.
“When the taxes remain low, we as public health advocates realize that we shall not achieve our objective of reducing consumption of cigarettes and tobacco because they become affordable. Young people in secondary schools can afford cigarettes, which, of course, as we know, lead to cancer and heart disease. The tobacco industry is interested in maintaining taxes at a level where they’re ineffective, where they are so low that the prices are so low and young people can afford them,” said Dr. Zakumumpa.
But do health taxes work?
Studies that have been conducted elsewhere have shown that, when you increase taxes, the government increases revenue, and also the population reduces consumption of harmful products.
While the industry argues that taxes generate government revenue, a 2017 report by the Center for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA), based on a World Bank study, revealed that for every dollar the Ugandan government receives in tobacco taxes, it spends four dollars treating tobacco-related diseases. The government incurs costs at the Cancer Institute, Lung Institute, and Heart Institute, treating individuals with lung cancer, throat cancer, and heart disease linked to smoking in their youth.
“The industry has been successful in misinforming the public, even government officials, by scaring them that if they increase taxes, the economy will suffer and the government will lose revenue, which we have found is actually misinformation,” argues Dr. Zakumumpa.
Dr. Segujja explains, “Health taxes collide with national priorities like the industrialization growth trajectory that the government is pursuing and getting a bulk of the population from the subsistence to a cash economy. Manufacturers of alcohol, tobacco products, and sodas advance this as the rationale for their businesses and, along the way, were attracted to the country with tax incentives to contribute to this objective. Now, they argue new levies will kill jobs and take them out of business.” Industry lobbying has kept Uganda’s tobacco taxes at 30% of retail prices, far below WHO’s 70% recommendation.
The Chemical Hook
For the smokers, every puff injects their veins with 70 cancer-causing chemicals. Smoking doubles their risk of diabetes or that 90% of lung cancers trace back to this habit. But they know one thing: they can’t stop and this is how big tobacco engineers addiction in Uganda’s backyard
“Tobacco is one of the most addictive products,” explains Dr. Zakumumpa. “But do you know why? Manufacturers lace it with nicotine—a chemical trap designed to hook you for life.”
The irony is as bitter as the smoke. In rural Uganda, farmers have chewed raw tobacco leaves for generations without addiction. But in the hands of multinationals like British American Tobacco (BAT) and Marlboro, those same leaves are chemically altered. Nicotine, absent in natural foliage, is added like a sinister seasoning, transforming a plant into a predator.
Profitability of their businesses thrives through repeated consumption by a bulk of consumers.
“They want you as a tenant for life,” Dr. Zakumumpa says. “Even when your lungs scream, your wallet empties, or your blood sugar spikes. When the poor can’t afford cigarettes, they smoke less. The rich? They fund their own demise,” he adds notes.
But isn’t this the science of slavery?
Science demonstrates that nicotine is not only addictive, but also a master manipulator. It rewires brains to crave more, while tar and formaldehyde, some of the 7,000 chemical substances, carve silent graves in lungs. Yet Uganda’s tobacco taxes remain among the lowest globally, keeping packs accessible to teens.
“This isn’t commerce,” Dr. Zakumumpa argues. “Its chemical warfare, and the casualties are in our wards, gasping for air.”
He advises those who are addicted to enroll in nicotine reduction therapies and healthcare treatment at centers designated to help people with tobacco addiction.
“There is something called the National Care Centre (NACARE); we have Serenity Centre Uganda. We have about five centers which treat people who have tobacco addiction and who want to leave tobacco because it’s a chemical addiction, so they should approach the School of Public Health, they can approach us researchers, we can link them to these centers and they will leave and drop this habit,” says Dr. Zakumumpa
Revenue vs. Health, the Fiscal Tightrope
Uganda’s dilemma mirrors a global challenge. While health taxes could reduce NCD risks and fund healthcare, policymakers fear economic fallout usually advanced by opponents of tax increases. “Taxes on unhealthy commodities are sensitive, fought against by companies”—acknowledges Ssempala. Yet data from his nine-year analysis demystified this: Production and sales of taxed goods like beer and sodas keep rising, even as revenues plateau. During COVID-19, sales dipped briefly but rebounded sharply.
The Ministry of Health’s Dr. Oyoo Charles Akiya remains pragmatic:
“We need compromise. If manufacturers won’t accept higher taxes, let’s mandate health warnings or limit marketing to children.”
Dr. Akiya is the Commissioner of Health Services-Non-Communicable Diseases, and he hopes there can be a path forward through coalitions, evidence, and political will. Despite hurdles, advocates see hope. South Africa’s success in taxing sugary drinks and Kenya’s tobacco levies offer blueprints.
Regionally, a coalition of East African NCD managers is advocating for unified policies. The 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum, held at the Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, on February 13, 2025, was the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. The event brought together 700 advocates, experts, and ministerial representatives from over 66 countries working in NCD prevention and care. This forum is a key global health forum as we race to the 4th UN High-level Meeting on NCDs, scheduled for September 2025 in New York.
“Change requires top-down pressure,” says Dr. Akiya.
With multinationals at the centre of manufacturing these commodities, exerting enormous pressure sometimes may prove difficult to confront as individual countries.
“We’re engaging the AU and UN to put NCDs on presidential agendas.” Locally, the Ministry of Health is mobilizing patients with lived experience: “They matter the most. The media plays a crucial role in this endeavor and holds significant importance for us. We cannot leave them out in these efforts. The leadership at the Ministry of Health, the minister, and the PS [Permanent Secretary] are all passionate about NCDs,” he added.
Is it a race against time or a behavioral issue?
As Uganda’s youth embrace processed snacks and tobacco, the clock ticks. “Every day without action, we lose more people to preventable diseases,” warns Professor Ssengooba.
The other day, Mubiru (not his real name) was jogging on the street, and a motorcycle taxi called Boda Boda knocked him, and he has just come out of the cast. He’s trying to manage NCDs; he got injured. At a Kampala hotel buffet, 28-year-old Miriam (not her real name) stares at her plate—a mountain of matoke, fried rice, boiled rice, vegetable rice, roasted gonja (plantain), and three golden potato wedges. “Finish it all,” her aunt insists. “Food is a blessing!” But Professor Ssengooba sees a different truth in these heaping portions: “Our plates have become battlegrounds. We pile carbohydrates like trophies—fried, boiled, mashed—while our bodies crumble.”
Uganda’s love affair with carbohydrates has turned toxic. Meals once centered on balanced staples like beans and greens now drown in oil and starch. “We’ve confused ‘tasty’ with ‘excessive,’” he says, adding that “at weddings, funerals, and even home dinners, its six carbohydrates competing on one plate. Why? Tradition says ‘more is generous.’ Science says, ‘more is deadly.’”
At what cost? Surging diabetes and hypertension rates. “We’re eating our way into clinics,” he warns. Yet change faces cultural roadblocks: How do you convince a nation that less on the plate isn’t disrespect—but survival? In this high-stakes battle between public health and profit, Uganda’s choices will shape a generation’s survival.
Davidson Ndyabahika is the Communications Officer, Makerere University School of Public Health.
The Ministry of Health (MoH), Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Makerere University College of Health Science (MakCHS) and other partners are jointly hosting the National Annual Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (NACNDC) and 19th Joint Annual Scientific Health (JASH) Conference 2025, running from 3rd to 7th November. Ahead of the official opening on Wednesday, 5th November, a Mental Health Pre-Conference Symposium was held under the theme “Breaking the Silence: Advancing Mental Health Awareness and Resilience,” with a sub-theme on “Advancing Mental Health in Schools and Universities — Research and Policy Perspectives.” The session, held at Victoria Hall, Speke Resort Munyonyo, brought together mental-health experts, policymakers, researchers and education stakeholders to explore how learning institutions can strengthen emotional well-being, resilience and support systems for young people across Uganda.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Justice Duncan Gaswaga of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights urged stakeholders to recognise the deep connection between mental health and human rights, noting that mental well-being cannot be separated from the social and economic realities in which people live. He commended the theme on “breaking the silence,” arguing that open conversations and early prevention offer the most cost-effective path to protecting communities, especially learners. Drawing from his judicial experience, he shared first-hand accounts of emotional trauma faced by judges who regularly encounter distressing evidence in court, including cases from the LRA conflict, and observed that legal professionals, like health workers and teachers, are not immune to psychological strain. Justice Gaswaga raised concern over rising mental-health challenges in schools and universities, citing data showing increased depression, substance use, and emotional distress among students, particularly girls. He attributed these trends to pressures such as long study hours, parental absence, peer influence, online risks, poverty, and untreated trauma. He called for stronger government funding, implementation of school mental-health policies, closer parental involvement, and coordinated action across sectors, adding that legal reforms, including debate on decriminalising attempted suicide, may be necessary to ensure individuals can seek help without fear of punishment.
The Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe emphasised the urgent need to prioritise mental health across all sectors, noting that society often treats the subject as taboo despite its profound impact on productivity, ethics and service delivery. She argued that mental well-being is not only a personal concern but a governance issue, pointing out that health workers, who shoulder enormous responsibility, also require structured support systems to safeguard their psychological welfare. Citing recent incidents, including a case in Masaka where a patient reportedly died after a medical worker allegedly refused treatment over a payment dispute, she warned that unresolved mental-health challenges can influence behaviour and decision-making in critical service spaces. The IGG further highlighted a link between mental health and corruption, suggesting that addressing emotional strain and psychological pressures among public servants could contribute to ethical conduct and better public service outcomes. She encouraged continued engagement on the topic, calling for mental-health considerations to be integrated into anti-corruption strategies and institutional reforms, and expressed readiness to contribute more deeply to future discussions.
Delivering the keynote at the Mental Health Pre-Conference Symposium, Dr Racheal Nuwagaba of Makerere University urged stakeholders to confront mental health as it is today and abandon siloed approaches, calling for full integration of services into primary health care and evidence-led policy. She said nearly two decades of clinical practice and teaching have shown her that young people carry mounting pressures, highlighting Uganda’s youthful demographics and pointing to drivers such as sleep deprivation, academic strain, abuse and neglect. Citing recent trends, she warned against sensational statistics and urged clear differentiation between mild, moderate and severe symptoms, noting post-COVID rises in depression, higher burdens among refugees and significant risks for girls and senior students. Dr Nuwagaba stressed the frequent co-occurrence of mental illness with addictions and physical conditions, explaining that untreated disorders worsen over time and can impair brain function, while treatment and adherence improve outcomes. She encouraged mindfulness and presence in classrooms and clinics, and pressed institutions to use research to guide decisions, reduce stigma, and design culturally grounded, community-based responses. Concluding, she appealed for sustained collaboration across sectors and for the deliberate hiring and fair remuneration of professional mental-health providers to safeguard learners’ emotional, social and academic well-being.
The symposium also featured a panel discussion on Mental Health in Schools and Universities, chaired by Dr Kenneth Kalani from the Ministry of Health, and bringing together experts including Dr Harriet Abbe, Prof Ane-Marthe Solheim of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and Ms Rebecca Namakula from the Ministry of Education and Sports. Panelists underscored the urgency of addressing mental-health challenges among learners, with insights highlighting early substance use among children as young as six, the need for teacher training in mental-health literacy, and the critical role of schools as early-detection points. They emphasised stronger linkages between health facilities and learning institutions, investment in prevention and early intervention, and the importance of equipping teachers, parents and school leaders with the skills to identify and respond to distress. The panel agreed that mental-health support must extend across the entire school community and be backed by policy enforcement, coordinated services and sustained collaboration across sectors.
In her closing remarks, Dr Hafsa Lukwata, Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health and Control of Substance Abuse at the Ministry of Health, urged Ugandans to break the silence around mental well-being and be intentional about seeking help and supporting one another. She noted that mental-health challenges are widespread across schools, homes and workplaces, and emphasised that silence only deepens the burden. Dr Lukwata encouraged institutions to appoint mental-health focal persons and called for sustained dialogue, continued collaboration and proactive efforts to build resilience in communities. She reminded participants that improving mental health begins with individual awareness and collective action, urging them to treat the day’s engagement as a starting point for strengthening support systems across the country.
On 24th October 2025, the 3rd cohort (65 professionals) of the ‘Science of Designing Adaptation and Implementation of Evidence–Based Parenting Interventions’ graduated at a ceremony held at Africana Hotel, Kampala, Uganda. The professionals were advised to be good ambassadors and share the knowledge from the training.
The training is a collaboration between Child Health Development Centre (CHDC) at Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) and Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) through their Parenting Agenda Initiative.
The graduation brings the total of those trained to 130 since cohort 1, and marks a significant milestone in the journey of standardising parenting interventions in Uganda and testament of the nation’s commitment to strengthening families and communities.
In his remarks at the graduation, Dr. Godfrey Siu – Senior Lecturer at CHDC, Programme and Course Lead congratulated the participants for successfully completing the intensive parenting course. He said, ‘I am filled with an immense sense of pride and hope, not just for what we have accomplished during the training but the ripple effect this will have across Uganda’.
Dr. Siu highlighted that the course was not conceived in isolation, but is a vital pillar in the ambitious and crucial efforts by the Government of Uganda (GoU) through MoGLSD with an aim to strengthen and standardise parenting interventions in the country.
‘We extend our appreciation to GoU and MoGLSD in particular for the unwavering commitment and steadfast support. The vision for stronger families is a collective one, and leadership by government is its cornerstone. Let us go and build a future where every child in Uganda can thrive in a nurturing, supportive, and loving family’, Dr. Siu said.
Dr. Siu thanked the various partners who supported the training including the ELMA Foundation, Global Parenting Initiative and Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC); facilitators of the programme, drawn from a diverse spectrum of expertise. He advised the graduands to be champions, as standard-bearers for a new-era of parenting in Uganda.
He also called for support from development partners, donors and GoU in funding the next phase of the critical work noting that investment in parenting is an investment in the health, stability, and prosperity of the nation.
Dr. Herbert Muyinda, Director-CHDC noted the multi-dimensional benefits of the course including standardisation. He said, ‘all researchers dream about their work making impact and influence policy which Dr. Siu has achieved with this training programme’.
The Director-CHDC thanked all partners, MakCHS and CHDC administration for ensuring the success of the training. He commended the participants for the commitment and resilience during the training and expressed hope that they will use the knowledge when they return to their communities and organisations.
Professor Richard Idro, Deputy Principal-MakCHS represented the College administration at the graduation. In his speech he congratulated the participants on the milestone, thanked MoGLSD for entrusting the University with this work and also thanked CHDC for undertaking the programme not only for research but also as a contribution to the nation.
Professor Idro noted that parenting today is so different from what many of us experienced, highlighting that many parents work away from home also spending less time with their children.
He said, ‘teachers and carers spend more time with children therefore standardisation from initiatives like this are welcome’.
Highlighting the new strategy of taking the University to communities and solving societal challenges, Professor Idro commended the CHDC for the work which is well aligned to the aforementioned strategy. He called on the graduands to cascade the initiative learned to the lowest level of local governments for the benefit of the whole population.
He expressed hope that for sustainability, funding of the programme would be included in the government budget cycle to ensure continuity. He thanked the UMSC for the support recognising time that Sheikh Ali Waiswa had spent at the event as a sign of commitment to improved parenting in Uganda.
‘Our children are vulnerable, I hope this training takes us back to the basics of parenting. I encourage everyone to start with their family and share with all those around them’, said Dr. Angela Nakafeero – Commissioner for Women and Gender Affairs who represented the Permanent Secretary-MoGLSD, Mr. Aggrey Kibenge.
She thanked partners, MoGLSD departments, and various government institutions that have contributed to work accomplished to-date. She reiterated the message of the previous speakers to the graduands not to keep what they had learned to themselves but share with others. ‘Don’t keep information acquired, share it, make better parents and raise better families’, she said.
‘The ministry remains committed to the parenting agenda. As a nation we have always stressed the importance of cultural and religious appropriateness; the University is on-board to offer technical knowledge and this partnership will continue to deliver results’, Dr. Nakafeero added.
She invited the Chief Guest, Sheikh Ali Waiswa – Deputy Mufti, UMSC who represented the Mufti to address the congregation.
Sheikh Waiswa reminded those present that holy books including the Quran and Bible prescribed the family as the cornerstone of society giving guidance on how to raise good families.
He warned against the increased violence against children present in our communities. Quoting statistics, he expressed disappointment that children endure acts of violence in places meant to be safe havens like homes and schools with acts committed by people meant to be trusted. ‘Nearly 6 out of 10 girls and 7 out of 10 boys have experienced physical violence, while 35% of girls are affected by sexual violence’, he said.
The Deputy Mufti commended the training course for bridging the gap between research and practice, saying it would revolutionise parenting, strengthen families and in-turn society. ‘Don’t underestimate the power of the work you are doing, as we celebrate, let us remember our blue print is this initiative and training’, he said.
At the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) Annual Meeting held 27th-28th October 2025 at Makerere University, Kampala, the Chief Guest, Hon. Monica Musenero – Minister for Science Technology and Innovations called on scientists to translate science to local lingua to be understood by the general population.
ORTARChI was launched in December 2018, aimed at building research and innovation capacity across Africa. The initiative has to-date established 10 Research Chairs in seven countries, addressing critical challenges like climate change, public health, and food security. The seven countries are Uganda, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. The Uganda Research Chair held by Professor David Bisagaya Meya focuses on infectious and neurological diseases at Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
Hon. Musenero highlighted that at present Africa is like a huge pothole in a road compared to other continents in the context of development, advising that we must look at science as a driver of national development and solution to our challenges.
Calling for translation of science to local lingua the Minister advised, ‘we must realise that science is not to the exclusion of non-scientists. Connect the local population to appreciate how science is a utility in their lives’.
She proposed the following for consideration:
- Collaborate with partners in the northern hemisphere but retain your knowledge and consider it a commodity for wealth creation.
- Science was always considered a product of the elite education system than use in day-to-day life, this must change.
- Other nations rose through making STI a priority. Cognizant of the low investment by governments in sub-Saharan Africa, researchers must engage with policy makers, simplify their results for the later to appreciate the return on investment from research.
- Working in silos will not take Africa far, collaboration on the continent is necessary to produce material useful to us other than remaining consumers of what is produced elsewhere.
- Engineer science and research to build the economies and wealth creation.
‘Africa has excellent labs, publications, presentations at international conferences without protecting intellectual property which translates to professors retiring on pension as opposed to loyalties for their peers in the western world through registration and sale of patents’, Hon Musenero added.
Create think tanks that ‘think’ rather than only research and give to others, recognise knowledge from research as wealth, the Minister further advised.
Hon. Musenero’s parting message to researchers and scientists was: artificial intelligence is going to rule this world, what is Africa’s role and portion?; re-examine whether the research in our institutions is aligned to industries; the new saying should be aligned to protecting our knowledge through a value chain of research-protect-product and then publish as opposed to publish or perish which gives away our knowledge to be used by others; develop pan-African mind-set and networks through benefit sharing; and be intentional in working on what works for us, measure performance by how many products are a result of your research as well as jobs created.
In his remarks, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor – Makerere University welcomed participants to Uganda and Makerere University. He said, ‘this gathering reflects our shared commitment to science as a catalyst for inclusive development, resilience, and economic opportunity across the continent’.
Professor Nawangwe noted that Africa stands at a pivotal moment where a young population are pursuing education with determination, universities are expanding the frontiers of knowledge with collaborating partners enabling the institutions to translate ideas into impact.
‘However, true progress requires more than research excellence. Sustainable ecosystems that translate findings into policy, practice and prosperity are also required’, he reminded the gathering.
He expressed his hope that, conversations at this meeting are not only theoretical but concrete steps toward a self-sustaining research eco-system that aligns with Africa’s growth.
Dr. Ham-Mukasa Mulira delivered a keynote address where he called for stakeholders to advance Africa’s future-ready generation through research innovation and artificial intelligence. He challenged participants to reimagine Africa’s future through strategic investment in knowledge, technology and youth potential.
Some of the issues raised during discussions at the meeting included: Institutional uptake of Research Chairs in Universities in comparison to the research projects; Creation of Communities of Practice of scientists working in same arrears to leverage resources and capacity across borders; African nations should invest more in research and STI which enable the continent to set an agenda which is aligned to their needs; The research chairs introduced on the continent have to be aligned to the abundant natural resources and work towards developing final products for export as opposed to raw materials; Manufacturing capacity of Africa requires improvement and incentives to the private sector to be more responsive in collaborating with researchers in product development; Africa has to move away from business as usual in research with consideration that innovation isn’t random but has to be intentional to the needs of our societies; Acceleration of graduates to be job creators is required as opposed to incubation of idea which has been slow in delivering results; Science communication is necessary to local communities in simple language and engagement of policymakers both in country and regional bodies. Scientists can afford to be apolitical, as decision makers politicians are key partners in whatever is happening in research institutions; Inter-disciplinary collaboration and handholding, for example clinicians working with basic scientists; Identification of gifted scientists for mentorship, training and support through their career paths.
Dr. David Serukka, Ag. Executive Secretary of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology delivered closing remarks of the ORTARChI gathering. He moved a vote of thanks to all the participants and partners for making the meeting possible.
Dr. Serukka reiterated Hon. Musenero’s message and called on everyone to reflect on the discussions at the meeting. ‘The future for Africa is a digital knowledge economy and we must strive to define what it means for us and how to use it for national development as well as wealth creation’, he said.
He underlined the importance of partnerships, capacity building, concrete steps for sustainability, championing STI to become actors not watchers, protect our knowledge through patents, develop a pan-African mind-set of knowledge sharing and re-examine research around us and which direction to take.
Dr. Serukka thanked the National Research Foundation, South Africa for organising the funding which has catalysed the networks created. He called on all the Chairs under ORTARChI to keep thinking to take us forward.
-
Agriculture & Environment1 week agoMakerere hosts International Conference on Food Systems Transformation for Climate Actions
-
Research1 week agoAfrica’s Future through Research and AI: Makerere Hosts ARUA 5th Biennial Conference
-
General1 week agoStrengthening Partnerships for Transformative Education: Makerere University Hosts Delegation from University of Malmö
-
Agriculture & Environment2 weeks agoRUFS Empowers Smallholder Farmers to Build Resilience against Floods & Droughts
-
Health2 weeks agoSickle Cell Disease Stakeholders’ Engagement calls for raising awareness at grassroots