Uganda made history this June with its first-ever National Science Summit, held on June 16, 2025, at Kololo Independence Grounds during National Science Week (June 15–20, 2025). Themed “Made in Uganda: From Innovation to Market,” the Summit brought together scientists, innovators, academia, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers in a powerful showcase of Uganda’s innovation-driven future.
Science with Purpose
Opening the Summit, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, declared:
“When we invest in science, we invest in our collective future. Uganda’s brightest ideas must become industries, creating jobs and improving lives.”
She highlighted Uganda’s transition from research to industry, with breakthroughs including:
- First clinical trials for locally developed therapies.
- A booming electric mobility sector: 5,000+ motorcycles, 27 buses, 140 battery-swapping stations, and 30+ fast chargers.
- Launch of Deep Tech and Climate Tech Summits to push frontier innovation.
From Vision to Implementation
While Hon. Dr. Musenero focuses on designing and steering Uganda’s innovation agenda, Rt. Hon. Justine Lumumba Kasule, the Minister for General Duties (Office of the Prime Minister), ensures that these bold policies are executed effectively across government, from coordinating the government-wide implementation of innovation policies and harmonizing efforts across ministries and agencies to monitoring and evaluating national projects to ensure delivery, providing visibility, and ensuring that citizens directly benefit from innovation.
Together, these two offices form a twin engine of progress: one fuels discovery and industrialization, the other ensures coherence, accountability, and impact at the national scale.
“Our mandate is to ensure innovations don’t remain in reports. We make sure they reach communities, industries, and the economy,” Rt. Hon. Justine Lumumba Kasule emphasized.
Protecting and Growing Innovation
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) utilized the Summit to remind innovators of the pivotal role of intellectual property (IP) in achieving commercial success. Protecting ideas ensures that Ugandan innovators can attract investment and scale confidently in regional and global markets.
Partnerships Fueling Growth
The Summit showcased the power of collaboration:
- Universities such as Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Makerere, and Busitema Universities showed how academic research can turn into practical solutions.
- Private sector partners highlighted Uganda’s $160 million investment in e-mobility since 2018, which has created 10,000 jobs and positioned Uganda as a hub for green transport.
- Community innovators presented products from organic fertilizers to solar-powered systems already transforming lives and generating income.
DERMARLIC Tincture, a testament to Academia-Industry-Government-Society Linkages
One of the innovations that have shown the capacity to translate research into market-ready solutions to manage eczema and skin fungal infections.
National Call to Action
- Scientists: Move ideas beyond the lab and into markets.
- Investors: Explore Uganda’s ready-to-scale innovations.
- Government: Sustain enabling policies, infrastructure, and funding.
- Private Sector: Partner with innovators to build new industries.
Uganda’s Innovation Outlook: Uganda is no longer merely incubating ideas; it is commercializing, protecting, and scaling them.
“Science belongs to all of us; let us ensure Uganda’s greatest export is not raw materials but homegrown technologies.” Hon. Dr. Musenero reminded the nation.