Innovation
Government of Uganda reaffirms commitment to AI-Driven Innovation in Health and Development
In an increasingly interconnected world, the unseen links of global health risk are growing stronger. Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases are on the rise, fueled by humanitarian crises, conflict, fragile health systems, weak surveillance, and the ceaseless movement of people and goods. The World Health Organization now processes more than 100,000 health signals each month, each one a potential sign of an unusual illness pattern or outbreak in the making. Between 1996 and 2023, more than 3,000 global outbreak events were reported, affecting millions and revealing the vulnerabilities of even the most advanced health systems. Many of these diseases are zoonotic, capable of leaping from animals to humans and igniting epidemics or pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 laid bare how swiftly such threats can upend societies, economies, and entire ways of life, and how urgently the world must strengthen its capacity to predict, detect, and respond.
It is within this complex and evolving landscape that Makerere University has convened the second Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health Africa Conference from November 6–7, 2025, bringing together researchers, technologists, policymakers, and health leaders to explore how AI and digital innovation can redefine the continent’s disease surveillance and health resilience. Building on the momentum of its 2024 inaugural edition, this year’s conference advances the mission of accelerating responsible AI adoption across African health systems. Last year’s gathering sparked key collaborations, among them, partnerships between Makerere University’s AI Lab and the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), and deeper engagement with the Health AI for All Network (HAINET), laying the foundation for transformative, data-driven health ecosystems. From Sunbird AI, which supports real-time health data analytics, to AirQo, a platform using AI to monitor air quality and its health impacts, and the Makerere AI Health Lab, pioneering intelligent diagnostic and decision-support tools, these initiatives illustrate the tangible potential of African-led innovation.
As the second conference unfolds, it reflects not only a regional awakening to the power of AI but also a continental commitment to shaping the global health future from within Africa. These existing health risks demonstrate the urgent need to change the status quo and tackle these challenges decisively. However, doing so requires that resources, intensified surveillance, and capacity building be urgently prioritised across the continent, particularly to address regional bottlenecks and support countries that are ill-prepared to detect and contain disease outbreaks. Universities have a fundamental role to play in these processes as centers of innovation, research, and capacity building.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, Uganda’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, underscored the government’s commitment to fostering technological growth through the Life Sciences Innovation Centre. The centre, she explained, was established to support technology-based enterprises that possess scalable innovations but face challenges in expanding their reach.
Dr. Musenero emphasized that “this is the season for Uganda to make its mark globally” by actively engaging in the development and production of artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to enhance service delivery across sectors. She commended Makerere University for its ongoing AI-focused initiatives and urged the institution to continue positioning itself at the forefront of research and innovation in the field. Dr. Musenero further pledged the Government of Uganda’s continued support towards efforts that strengthen the country’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to the global AI ecosystem.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi highlighted the central theme of the conference addressing the needs of vulnerable communities that continue to face the burden of infectious diseases and limited access to quality healthcare, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. He observed that artificial intelligence (AI) in health presents a powerful equalizer, offering innovative solutions to bridge gaps in access and service delivery.
Prof. Buyinza further emphasized that progress in AI should not be driven by competition but by collaboration and knowledge sharing. He called on researchers, innovators, and policymakers to work collectively toward ensuring that advancements in AI serve the greater good of society.
The conference also show cased a range of innovative AI-driven solutions addressing critical challenges in health and development across Africa. Among the highlights was the Sam Photo App, an ethical and scalable AI platform designed for child nutritional monitoring, promoting sustainable approaches to early health intervention. Another innovation, the AI-Augmented Monitoring and Evaluation System, aims to redefine data utilization for building resilient and sustainable health systems on the continent. From Kenya, ICUConnect demonstrated the potential of machine learning through its web-based dashboard that streamlines referrals and ICU bed coordination, complete with time-series forecasting of bed demand in public hospitals. Additionally, a team of Ugandan researchers presented a project on Integrating GeoAI and Spatial Machine Learning for Malaria Prediction, show casing how data-driven insights can support proactive disease management.
Dr. Musenero’s message was clear, that Uganda’s moment to lead in technological innovation has arrived. With government support and academic collaboration, the country is poised not only to adopt emerging technologies but to shape them to transform local challenges into global contributions through the power of AI.
Engineering, Art & Tech
Makerere’s CEDAT Hosts Groundbreaking LIVWA Workshop on Advanced Climate Modelling for Lake Victoria Water Level Management
By Carol Kasujja and Betty Kyakuwa
Running a side business alongside full-time employment has become an increasingly popular venture among staff. For many, it is a way to supplement income and build financial resilience. For Ms. Rebecca Talikaza, a 48-year-old custodian, it has become a pathway to transformation. Talikaza successfully balances her office responsibilities with her growing enterprise, Beckiz Bathing Sponge.
“For the years I have been running Beckiz Bathing Sponge, my side business has not affected my work. I have a support system at home, and I have learnt how to utilize my time well,” she explains.
Turning Necessity into Opportunity
Talikaza’s entrepreneurial journey began during the COVID-19 period, when schools reopened. While preparing to take her first-born son back to school, she realized he did not have a bathing sponge. A search in nearby supermarkets in Nakwero proved futile.
“When I failed to get a bathing sponge, I went back home and looked for some material I had bought earlier. I became creative and decided to knit one using skills I had acquired in primary school,” she recalls.
As she worked, a neighbor noticed her and expressed interest. “When I told her I was knitting a sponge, she asked me to make four for her,” Talikaza says. After completing the order, her neighbor paid her UGX 20,000.
That same day, a boda boda rider she had sent on an errand also requested one. “He told me instead of giving him money, I should give him a sponge. That is when it hit me—I could actually make money from this. Every home needs two or three sponges,” she says.
From Small Orders to Supermarket Shelves
Encouraged by the demand, Talikaza approached Babis Supermarket in Nakwero with her sample. She requested to supply her products after noticing the gap in the market. The manager agreed and asked her to produce two dozen sponges for distribution across five branches.
She also secured a similar opportunity with Shop Wise Supermarket in Manyangwa Village. “Both supermarkets accepted, but it took me three weeks to deliver. I had to sacrifice my sleep, sometimes working until 2:00 a.m. to meet the demand,” she says.
Her first delivery earned her UGX 54,000 per dozen, with each sponge retailing at UGX 5,000. Drawing on knowledge from her Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration at Makerere University Business School, Talikaza realized the importance of branding and packaging. “I knew I had to register my business and package my products well because my target customers value quality,” she explains.
Improved packaging doubled the price of her sponges from UGX 5,000 to UGX 10,000. Since then, the business has steadily grown, enabling her to pay school fees and purchase land.
Challenges Along the Way
Despite her success, Talikaza faces challenges, particularly with delayed payments from supermarkets.
“Some supermarkets take long to pay, yet I need money to buy materials, so I end up using funds from other sources,” she says.
She also points to the difficulty small businesses face in meeting formal requirements. “Some supermarkets require invoices, which is challenging for small businesses like mine. Without them, we are taxed heavily,” she adds.
Advice on Managing a Side Hustle
Talikaza emphasizes discipline, sacrifice, and humility as key ingredients for success. “Never despise humble beginnings. Side businesses do not accommodate laziness. If it means working late, do so to ensure growth and profit,” she advises.
She also stresses the importance of fairness and teamwork, noting that she employs her children and a maid to help with production—and pays them weekly. To maintain professionalism, Talikaza draws a clear boundary between her job and her business.
“Your office work should not suffer because of your side hustle. I do not sell my products at the University. Those who need them can find them in supermarkets,” she says. She recommends careful time management, dedicating working hours to official duties and reserving evenings or weekends for business.
Efficiency, she adds, is critical. “I do not leave work to buy materials. I send a boda boda rider who delivers on time. He even helps monitor stock in supermarkets,” she explains. Above all, Talikaza encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to build businesses around passion and knowledge.
“Understand your business—its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Also know your target market to avoid being cheated,” she says.
At a Glance
Born to Mr. Nathan Magoola and the late Gladys Magoola, Talikaza hails from Iganga District. She attended Iganga Municipal Council Primary School before joining St. Peter’s Secondary School, Naalya, for both O-Level and A-Level.
She later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University, followed by a Master’s degree in Gender and Women Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration.
The 10th born in a family of 14, Talikaza is a mother of six children.
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