Advancing Science Education and Technology for Economic Growth and Social Transformation: Lessons Learnt from Uganda

Abstract

Over the years Uganda has had a growing concern of enhancing Science education and Technology is the engine for economic growth and social transformation. It is, therefore, important for Universities and government to invest in science and technology. A key element of such investment is to increase support to teaching science, research and community engagement practices for the development of the country. Over the last 10 years Uganda has come up with a strategy to support teaching of science and technology which the government of Uganda agenda. This drive has come out strongly to support the teaching of science and technology from research capacity new research projects registered within Universities and National Council for Science and Technology. This spending could be directed more towards supporting research programmes aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, adding value to agricultural products and understanding disease and developing new biopharmaceuticals supported by the rich indigenous knowledge base, developing new materials for construction and manufacturing, finding alternative methods of waste management and pollution control, using information and communication technologies to improve service delivery, enhancing nutrition of students, developing efficient and environmentally benign energy systems, and improving water quality and sanitation at the community and in the households. The most appropriate mode of delivering support for research and research capacity development appears to be through national competitive grants funding schemes administered transparently, focusing on the merit of proposals and strictly adhering to rules of competition. The Uganda Science Initiative funding facility and the National Agricultural Research Organization competitive grants are good starting points, and should be consolidated. Also, actors within the research system should interact more and build synergies among themselves to promote innovation. Therefore, the creation of multidisciplinary research groups and or strengthening local inter-institutional and regional and international collaborations and research partnerships is essential to Uganda's research enterprise.