Research
Africa’s Future through Research and AI: Makerere Hosts ARUA 5th Biennial Conference
The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Information, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza has officially opened the 5th African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Biennial International Conference on Research, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, held on October 29, 2025. Hosted by Makerere University, the three-day conference has drawn together distinguished guests including Vice Chancellors and their deputies from universities under the ARUA, alongside leading scholars and practitioners in Science, Technology and Innovation. The gathering comes at a momentous time as ARUA celebrates its 10th anniversary—an occasion that underscores the alliance’s growing impact on advancing research and collaboration across the continent. Over the course of the conference, participants will deliberate on how research, innovation and artificial intelligence can be harnessed to address Africa’s most pressing challenges and drive sustainable transformation.
Addressing Africa’s Scientific Renaissance
Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, opened the conference with a compelling call for Africa to seize its moment in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. She reflected on the continent’s history of disruption—from the slave trade to colonization—that interrupted the continuity of African innovation, noting how earlier generations independently developed technologies, smelted iron, and applied natural therapeutics without formal laboratories. Hon. Musenero urged African scientists, researchers, and universities to reclaim this legacy by transforming knowledge into practical solutions that address real-world challenges, create jobs, and drive economic growth.
She emphasized that the role of science must extend beyond academic publications and ivory towers, stressing the need for inventions, industrialization, and commercialization of research outcomes. Highlighting Uganda’s progress, she pointed to innovations in electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, as well as initiatives to harness AI and digital technology to benefit local economies. She challenged researchers to align their work with national priorities, protect intellectual property, and translate knowledge into tools, industries, and enterprises that uplift communities. Hon. Musenero concluded by urging African scientists to embrace challenges as opportunities, enter the “Evil Forest” of innovation with courage and resilience, and ensure that Africa no longer remains a passive observer in global technological advancement but a leader shaping its own development trajectory.
Dr. Lorna Magara, Chairperson of the Makerere University Council on her part described the gathering as a convergence of visionaries, dream builders, and custodians of Africa’s future. She emphasized that the theme of the conference, Research, Innovation, and Artificial Intelligence for Africa’s Transformation, called for a shift from consuming knowledge to creating and exporting it, positioning Africa at the center of global development.
Dr. Magara highlighted Makerere University’s initiatives, including the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF), the AI and Data Science Research Center, and the Innovation Pod, as examples of how African universities can drive societal transformation when innovation is pursued with vision and intentionality. She also underlined the importance of collaboration through ARUA, noting that technology must serve humanity and be guided by African values of ethics, community, dignity, and shared prosperity. Pointing to Africa’s young population as a key engine of creativity and growth, Dr. Magara called on leaders and researchers to build ecosystems that empower scholars, inspire innovations that uplift communities, and forge partnerships to accelerate the continent’s progress.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed delegates to the Conference, expressed gratitude for Makerere’s role as a pioneer member of the alliance and paid tribute to the visionaries who laid its foundation. Speaking from the historic Main Hall—where Africa’s early independence leaders once debated the continent’s future—Professor Nawangwe reflected on how today’s struggles have shifted from political emancipation to scientific, technological, and economic liberation. He emphasized the urgent need to address Africa’s pressing challenges, including population growth, health, governance, and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. Highlighting Uganda’s commitment to science, he cited the government’s support to Mak-RIF and the appointment of a scientist-led Ministry for Science, Technology, and Innovation as milestones of progress. He added that under the stewardship of strong leaders such as Dr. Lorna Magara and Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, Makerere has received over $8 million annually in research funding, fostering groundbreaking innovations by students, faculty, and community innovators. Professor Nawangwe called for sustained collaboration, increased investment, and shared resolve to harness Africa’s knowledge and innovation for true emancipation.
A call to prepare early and act decisively for AI
The Secretary General of ARUA, Professor John Owusu Gyapong, delivered an insightful overview of the 5th Biennial International Conference, highlighting the urgency for Africa to leverage AI and research to transform its social, economic, and political landscape. He observed that while the continent continues to grapple with challenges such as poverty, unemployment, health crises, and governance gaps, artificial intelligence presents a unique opportunity to accelerate progress towards Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Professor Gyapong emphasized the potential of AI to enhance research efficiency, drive innovation, and address pressing issues in agriculture, health, education, and governance. He also underscored the need for Africa to develop data infrastructure, ethical frameworks, and equitable access to AI tools. Outlining the conference program, he noted that discussions would center on building AI capacity in higher education, strengthening university–industry collaboration, and advancing responsible AI ecosystems. Concluding with an African proverb, he reminded participants that “you cannot fatten a goat on the market day,” urging institutions to prepare early and act decisively for Africa’s transformation.
In his address, the Chairperson of the ARUA Board, Prof. Sizwe Mabizela, paid tribute to the visionary leaders who founded ARUA and commended its founding Secretary General, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, for his exceptional leadership in strengthening the alliance across the continent. Professor Mabizela emphasized the importance of collaboration among African universities and their global partners in addressing the complex challenges facing humanity—ranging from climate change and pandemics to inequality and technological disruption. He called for stronger, sustainable international research networks that enable knowledge exchange, innovation, and institutional growth, allowing African universities to become central contributors to global progress. Expressing appreciation to Makerere University for hosting the conference, he applauded the organizers, keynote speakers, and participants for their dedication to advancing Africa’s research and innovation agenda. He concluded with optimism, affirming that through collaboration, shared purpose, and resilience, Africa’s future remains bright with promise and possibility.
In his virtual address, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University, urged Africa to harness its vast potential as the world’s youngest and fastest-growing continent. He reflected on the continent’s unique position to redefine its development path through courage, collaboration, and conviction. Acknowledging the challenges of climate change, health inequities, educational disparities, and economic inequality, he emphasized that Africa’s research institutions are already generating groundbreaking, context-driven innovations. Drawing inspiration from Robert Frost, Professor Marwala noted that Africa stands at a crossroads—and that the choices made today will shape its destiny. He called for bridging the gap between knowledge and implementation, affirming that with collective effort and optimism, “nothing can stop us now.”
During the conference, Makerere University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Astria Learning, a global education technology company dedicated to developing impactful, flexible, and accessible e-learning solutions. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Astria Learning’s CEO Dr. Jeff Bordes highlighted how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing education and underscored the partnership’s role in shaping the future of learning in Africa. He shared that, recognizing AI’s potential to redefine teaching and research, Astria pivoted its focus from traditional software development to AI-driven educational technologies. Through this collaboration, Makerere University and Astria Learning will establish an AI e-Campus aimed at accelerating postgraduate education and supporting the African Union’s goal of producing one million PhDs by 2035. Dr. Bordes noted that AI tools such as automated grading systems, intelligent tutoring, and adaptive content creation will empower lecturers to manage larger cohorts efficiently without compromising quality. Expressing gratitude to Makerere University’s leadership, he affirmed Astria Learning’s commitment to transforming higher education and building global capacity through technology.
A Host’s heartfelt appreciation
Professor Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships at Makerere University and Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee expressed deep gratitude to the participants, partners, and sponsors whose collaboration made the event possible, and extended a special welcome to international guests visiting Uganda for the first time. Professor Wamala described the conference theme as both timely and forward-looking, noting that AI is reshaping how societies live, learn, and develop.
He emphasized that for Africa, this technological revolution presents not just an opportunity to catch up, but to lead — anchored in strong research, ethical practices, and a shared vision for sustainable development. Appreciating the dedication of his organizing team, he encouraged participants to use the conference as a platform for learning, co-creation, and collaboration across nations, reminding them that while artificial intelligence is powerful, “human intelligence, ethics, and purpose must lead the way.”
Uganda must strengthen the systems that move university research beyond prototypes and publications into policies, public services, products and enterprises that improve people’s lives, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister in charge of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Office of the President (STI-OP), has said.
He made the call during a visit to Makerere University School of Public Health on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, as part of his wider engagement with Makerere University’s research and innovation ecosystem. Accompanied by University Management, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Minister met researchers presenting work across major public health priorities before touring the School’s new building.
Hon. Eng. Asiimwe linked the challenge to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, which targets expanding the country’s GDP from nearly USD 50 billion in 2023 to USD 500 billion by 2040. He argued that science, technology and innovation must help deliver that ambition by raising productivity, improving public services and creating viable enterprises.
“The Tenfold Growth Strategy will not be achieved by one particular project alone,” he stated. “It will be achieved when science, technology and innovation repeatedly raise the productivity and incomes of millions of ordinary people.”
The work presented at MakSPH showed how public health research can contribute to that ambition by shaping clinical guidance and national policy, strengthening systems that improve services and protect population health, and advancing technologies towards wider testing and adoption.
One such example was the PURPOSE 1 study, a 2022–2024 trial that evaluated Gilead Sciences’ twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women. Prof. Noah Kiwanuka served as Site Principal Investigator for MakSPH’s work at Makerere-Kalangala site through the UVRI-IAVI collaboration. The trial recorded no HIV infections among participants who received lenacapavir, contributing evidence that informed regulatory decisions and WHO’s 2025 recommendation of the drug as an additional HIV prevention option.
In maternal and newborn health, MakSPH’s Centre of Excellence for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health recently partnered with St. Francis Hospital Nsambya to establish Uganda’s first human milk bank and generate evidence on the safe use of pasteurised donor milk. The work has now contributed to Uganda’s first National Donor Human Milk Guidelines and provides a model that other hospitals could adopt.
The exhibition also showed how university expertise can strengthen national systems. Through the Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support (METS) Programme, MakSPH worked with the Ministry of Health for more than 15 years to develop and support platforms for health reporting, disease surveillance and programme management. The U.S. CDC funded the programme through PEPFAR, providing US$103.8 million across three five-year grants. In March 2026, MakSPH transitioned 16 digital health systems developed through METS, together with their supporting infrastructure, to Ministry of Health stewardship.
Makerere University School of Public Health Dean Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze said the School embeds teaching and research within communities, health facilities and public institutions through its “Public Health School Without Walls” model, designing research around the problems it must address and the value it can create.
“For us, translation is not alien. It is where we start when designing our research,” Prof. Wanyenze noted. “We examine what drives ill health and what we can do to solve the problem. As we consider translation and commercialisation, we must define how scientific impact grows into societal impact and track that contribution through health outcomes and economic growth.”
That approach informs VectorCam, an artificial intelligence-enabled smartphone tool that MakSPH is evaluating in Mayuge and Adjumani districts. It enables community health workers to identify mosquitoes by species, sex and feeding status, generating faster data for malaria-control decisions. Prof. Peter Waiswa serves as Uganda Principal Investigator for the Gates Foundation-funded project, which MakSPH implements with Johns Hopkins University. The partners plan to extend it to 22 districts and assess its performance under routine conditions in 12.
Watch how VectorCam uses a smartphone and artificial intelligence to identify mosquitoes and strengthen malaria surveillance:
The School’s national survey work also demonstrates local capacity to generate evidence for policy. Uganda launched the 2024–2025 Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) in May 2025 with support from the U.S. Government and technical leadership from MakSPH. The Ministry of Health expects to release the findings on 1 October 2026, providing updated evidence on HIV prevalence, new infections, viral suppression, service coverage and associated risk behaviours to guide the country’s future HIV response.
The School also led Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) Uganda, a nationally representative platform that generated recurring evidence on contraceptive use, access and service quality. Working with the Ministry of Health and other partners, it enabled Uganda to track change, identify persistent gaps and guide family-planning policy and investment.
This combination of evidence generation and local capacity gives practical expression to Makerere University’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030, launched in July 2026, which seeks to build a sustainable, research-led and responsive university. During a visit to MakSPH on 18 June 2026, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe described the School as a model of that institutional direction.
“I think the School of Public Health is the perfect example of what a research-led unit should be,” Prof. Nawangwe said. “You are really showing the way for the rest of the University and what we should be as a research-led university.”
The work supports priorities under Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), including stronger health research, innovation and uptake of locally generated solutions. Speaking at a public dialogue on health financing jointly organised by MakSPH and partners in April 2026, Prof. Nawangwe said Makerere attracts more than UGX 1 trillion into Uganda annually through research and urged the Government to increase support for the University’s national role.
Today, the Government allocates about UGX 25 billion annually through theMakerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) to support research and innovation across Makerere. Beyond Mak-RIF, it recently contributed UGX 14 billion to the construction of the new MakSPH building. Work began in 2020 and remains on course for completion in December 2026.
The facility will expand space for teaching, research, laboratories and collaboration. The School’s next infrastructure priority is a specialised environmental health laboratory to investigate health risks associated with air, water, food and other environmental exposures.
Through STI-OP, the Government also supports the NUTRIMEAL Project. Dr Barbara Eva Kirunda leads the project, which brings together MakSPH and Makerere University’s School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering to develop a non-dairy probiotic beverage from locally available finger millet and beetroot for people living with HIV. The team will test its safety and effects on immune and nutritional outcomes among 432 participants.
Hon. Eng. Asiimwe placed that support within a longer pathway from research to use. He said developing and testing an innovation represent only part of the journey and called for stronger systems to move viable innovations into policy, public services, products and enterprises.
“Every innovation should be able to name its user, define the problem it solves and show the value it creates,” he said. “We should move beyond saying, ‘We developed a prototype,’ to showing who uses it, who manufactures it, how it reaches the market and how it will grow.”
Reaching that point requires the capacity to generate and test evidence, alongside collaboration among universities, government and industry in validation, standards, intellectual property, financing, manufacturing, procurement and public trust.
Public health research creates value not only through commercial products but also evidence that changes policy, strengthens surveillance, improves clinical practice and guides national programmes. The challenge now is to move the strongest research into use and turn it into better services, greater productivity and healthier lives, all essential to Uganda’s tenfold growth ambition.
Agriculture & Environment
Makerere Hosts Inaugural Falling Walls Lab Competition as Innovators Pitch Solutions to National Challenges
Students and researchers from Makerere University and other institutions pitched 12 innovations addressing challenges in healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, waste management and community resilience during the inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala, held at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Makerere University.
The competition brought together emerging innovators to present solutions to practical challenges through a three minute pitch, followed by questions from a panel of judges.
Modelled on the Falling Walls format that originated in Berlin, the event required each participant to identify a “wall” a problem or barrier, and demonstrate how their innovation seeks to break it down.
Mudhasi wins with newborn jaundice screening device
Andrew Mudhasi of Makerere University emerged as the overall winner with a score of 90 per cent for a low cost medical device designed to improve newborn jaundice screening across different skin tones.
Mudhasi explained that the device uses optical sensor technology and a skin tone targeting algorithm to provide a rapid reading, with the aim of helping nurses and clinicians identify jaundice more efficiently.
During questions from the jury, Mudhasi said the device had not yet been tested on actual babies but had undergone laboratory testing using simulated skin tones.
He reported an accuracy rate of 94 per cent when the device was compared with laboratory spectrophotometers.
The innovation is intended initially for use in clinics and hospitals, with Mudhasi saying the team is also considering a version that could eventually allow mothers to screen babies at home.
Mudhasi’s innovation has previously received recognition at the African Business Concept Challenge and the iF Design Student Award, according to his presentation.
Rhonda’s innovation tackles diaper waste
Rhoda John of the University of Nairobi emerged in second place with 89.6 per cent for an innovation addressing the problem of used diaper waste.
Under the theme “Breaking the wall of diaper waste and drug soils,” Rhonda explained that her team extracts sodium polyacrylate, the absorbent polymer found in diapers, and replaces the sodium with potassium.
The resulting potassium based superabsorbent material is designed to act as a “water battery” in soil by absorbing and retaining water for plants during dry periods.
John said testing showed a 99 per cent increase in germination and a 23 per cent increase in drought resistance.
The innovation also seeks to reduce the amount of used diapers ending up in landfills and the environmental effects associated with their decomposition.
During the question and answer session, John explained that her team was working with government environmental officials in Nairobi on a pilot collection system to address the challenge of gathering used diapers at scale.
Mahera takes third place with herbal peptic ulcer treatment
Stuart Mahera of Makerere University finished third with 86.2 per cent for a herbal formulation targeting peptic ulcers.
Presenting under the theme “Breaking the wall of Nature and Modern Medicine,” Mahera argued that conventional treatment for peptic ulcers can involve multiple medicines and may be associated with side effects and antimicrobial resistance.
His proposed formulation, MARAC capsules, is intended as a monotherapy, combining properties required for peptic-ulcer treatment in a single capsule.
Mahera said his team had carried out quality control work, including characterisation and dose quantification, and had conducted preclinical trials on laboratory mice.
He also told the jury that an application had been submitted to the National Drug Authority as the team awaits the next stage of the regulatory process.
According to Mahera, the proposed seven day treatment would cost about Shs21,000, compared with the existing 14 day treatment approach.
Innovators present solutions to practical challenges
The remaining presentations covered a wide range of challenges.
Esther Nakungu of Utamu University presented Agri-Track, a digital record keeping solution intended to improve visibility, accountability and management of farm operations and financial information.
Dr. Jimmy Chachiga, a Makerere University participant, presented a solar photovoltaic cooker with a heat storage system designed to provide a cleaner and more reliable cooking option during both sunny and non sunny periods.
His presentation focused on reducing dependence on biomass fuels and addressing the challenges associated with intermittent solar energy.
Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student and senior government fisheries officer, presented a mobile application aimed at helping fish farmers and extension officers report, track and manage disease outbreaks.
Henry Duke Tamale presented a herbal cream targeting antibiotic resistant biofilm infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers.
Marvin Seruwu proposed adapting existing near infrared brain monitoring technology to help detect extra-axial brain bleeds in health facilities where access to CT and MRI equipment is limited.
His proposal seeks to repurpose existing technology towards a diagnostic need that could be particularly important in settings where advanced imaging facilities are not readily available.
Kennedy Kisame presented a poultry alert and diagnosis system combining satellite weather information with computer vision disease detection. The proposed system could be accessed through a smartphone application, SMS or USSD, making it potentially usable by farmers with limited internet access.
Frank Atwiine proposed a solar powered mobile diagnostic van designed to bring ultrasound and other diagnostic services closer to rural communities.
Johnson Makmot, a software and blockchain developer, presented a platform that combines GPS tracking and blockchain-based tokens to incentivise and verify plastic-waste collection in Kampala.
Dr. Nelson Ndugu, from a partner university, presented an artificial intelligence tool designed to translate agricultural research publications into local Ugandan languages and generate voice notes for radio-based extension delivery.
The final presentation came from Dr. Juliet Akola, a Ugandan post doctoral researcher at Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa.
Akola presented a community digital resilience initiative focused on mapping risks in Kampala’s informal settlements, including flooding, fire, poor sanitation, waste management and inadequate infrastructure.
Her proposal seeks to combine local community knowledge with geographical information systems and link identified risks to action plans involving municipalities and other stakeholders.
Nawangwe calls for more investment in innovation
Closing the event, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated all the participants and described their presentations as an important beginning for Makerere University, Uganda and the wider region.
Drawing on his experience attending the Falling Walls conference in Berlin, the Vice Chancellor said initiatives of this nature are important because innovation will play a major role in determining the future of countries.
He encouraged participants to make their pitches more precise by clearly identifying the problem they are addressing, explaining their proposed solution and demonstrating what they have already achieved.
Prof. Nawangwe also welcomed the participation of innovators from other universities and countries, noting that the Kampala event had attracted participants beyond Makerere.
He thanked the Africa Office of the Falling Walls Foundation for its role in bringing the initiative to Makerere and encouraged continued support for innovation.
The Vice Chancellor further linked innovation to Uganda’s growing youth population and the need to develop home-grown solutions to address challenges such as youth unemployment.
The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala ultimately provided a platform for innovators to move ideas beyond the classroom and laboratory and demonstrate how research, technology and creativity can be applied to challenges affecting communities.
| Position | Winner | Institution | Score |
| 1st | Andrew Mudhasi | Makerere University | 90% |
| 2nd | Rhoda John | University of Nairobi | 89.6% |
| 3rd | Stuart Mahera | Makerere University | 86.2% |
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