Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat🇺🇬

The Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat – Office of the President congratulates Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe upon his appointment as Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation. We look forward to working together to advance Uganda’s STI agenda and drive innovation towards the realization of the USD 500 billion economy. 🇺🇬 #STI #Innovation #Uganda

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Pictorial:-

Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, today launched the Huawei ICT Competition 2026–2027 at Huawei Uganda’s offices in Nakasero. The initiative aims to nurture digital talent, strengthen ICT competencies and empower the next generation of technology innovators. The Minister emphasised that developing a competitive digital workforce requires deliberate investment in skills, innovation and collaboration between government, academia and the private sector. Such partnerships equip young people with the knowledge and practical competencies needed to contribute to Uganda’s digital transformation. “Do not just have a folder of innovations; have a store of products,” the Minister urged. He encouraged young people to turn their innovations into marketable products, so they can point to a store in Lugogo or along Kampala Road where customers can buy their solutions. He emphasised the need to translate talent and technical knowledge into enterprises that create jobs and contribute to Uganda’s economic transformation. The Minister commended Huawei and all the organisers for advancing ICT education, equipping young people with practical skills and creating opportunities for them to realise their potential. #STIUganda #STIWorks #HuaweiICTCompetition @Huawei @HuaweiEnt @MMU_Uganda @umu_nkozi

Advancing Natural Therapeutics in Kigezi Sub-Region. The Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat – Office of the President (STI-OP), through the Pathogen Economy Bureau, today conducted a profiling, documentation and mapping exercise for natural therapeutics at Kabale University, bringing together indigenous scientists (herbalists), researchers, STI-OP supported common user facilities, regulators and innovators from Kampala to Kigezi region. The engagement focused on identifying locally developed natural therapeutics, documenting indigenous knowledge and equipping innovators with knowledge on product standardisation, branding, packaging and National Drug Authority requirements. Product exhibitions and data collection provided an opportunity to identify promising therapeutics for further scientific assessment and standardisation process. As part of the Western Uganda exercise targeting more than 580 indigenous scientists across regional engagements (Kigezi, Ankole, Bunyoro, Tooro, Rwenzori), the findings will inform a prototype National Natural Therapeutics Database and guide product selection for laboratory analysis and potential clinical validation through the Clinical Trials for Natural Therapeutics (CONAT) platform. This exercise also informs the process of developing a commercialisation Model/Framework for herbal medicine which the Hon Minister Hon Eng Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki is championing with guidance from his excellency, the President of republic of Uganda. Through stronger collaboration with universities and research institutions, STI-OP seeks to translate Uganda’s biodiversity and indigenous knowledge into evidence-based health products that support national health security, enterprise development, import substitution and export promotion. #STIUganda #STIWorks #PathogenEconomy #NaturalTherapeutics

From Knowledge to Enterprise: Hon. Minister’s Engagement at Lira University. A recap of Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki’s visit to Lira University, highlighting engagements on research commercialisation, innovation and practical skills development as pathways to enterprise creation, employment and improved livelihoods. The programme included interactions with the university community and a visit to the Regional Presidential Skilling Hub, where the Minister met young people acquiring income-generating skills. He offered start-up support to two students studying carpentry and joinery and cosmetology, with STI teams tasked to follow up on how they apply their skills to serve their communities. #STIUganda #STIWorks

The wisdom shared by Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho offered a thoughtful, captivating, analytical, statistical and well-referenced account of Uganda’s economic metamorphosis, tracing the country’s journey from an economy built by cotton farmers, through recovery from war, to the pursuit of wealth creation. During today’s engagement in Kirema, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, together with the STI team, drew inspiration from his vision and depth of wisdom during wide-ranging discussions. From operations of war to Operation Wealth Creation, this story stretches from the early 1900s to the present, inspiring national pride and encouraging every patriotic citizen to direct their efforts and resources towards production. Following the discussions, the Minister presented Gen. Akandwanaho with a copy of his book, Uninterrupted Africa: Engineering the Future. In exchange, he proudly received a book titled Organizing Land for National Economic Transformation. #STIUganda #STIWorks

The Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, led by Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, is in Kapeeka for a strategic engagement with Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho (Gen. Salim Saleh), Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation. The engagement provides an opportunity to exchange ideas and explore areas of collaboration in applying science, technology and innovation to drive industrialisation, enterprise development and Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. The Ministry remains committed to working with partners to turn knowledge, innovation and technology into practical solutions for national development. #STIUganda #STIWorks

𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐮𝐥𝐮 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. Highlights of Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki’s visit to Gulu University, featuring a tour of facilities, interactions with young innovators, tree planting and strategic discussions on research commercialisation, industry collaboration and practical solutions to community challenges. #STIUganda #STIWorks

Preparing universities to respond to changing educational needs and global developments was central to a high-level strategic meeting at Lira University, led by Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President. Together with the STI Secretariat team, the Minister made commitments and presented proposals to strengthen the university’s role in this transformation. The Minister urged universities to prepare for students coming through the competency-based curriculum, equipped to reason, question and apply knowledge. Drawing on Darwin’s theory of natural selection, he emphasised that universities must adapt their teaching and research approaches to remain relevant. “If prisoners can generate income for a prison, why can’t students generate income for their university?” he challenged. He called on universities to translate knowledge and skills into practical solutions, products and enterprises that generate income and create jobs. Referring to President Trump’s sweeping policy changes and directives aimed at keeping America competitive, the Minister challenged universities to respond to global change with urgency. “Who are we to remain comfortable at such a defining moment in world history?” he asked, calling for a rethink of how universities teach, conduct research and translate innovation into wealth. #STIUganda #STIWorks

Lira University is home to the Regional Presidential Skilling Hub, where the Hon. Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, met young people from districts across the Lango sub-region who are gaining practical, income-generating skills. The Minister was encouraged to see students training in carpentry and joinery, masonry, tailoring, cosmetology and other fields. He offered start-up capital to two students: one studying carpentry and joinery, which he refers to as “CJ,” and a young lady studying cosmetology. Building on the Minister’s support, Ministry teams will follow up with the two students to assess how they apply their skills to generate income and respond to the needs of their communities. #STIUganda #STIWorks

With more than 600 acres of land and a large student population, Lira University has immense potential to contribute to development in the Lango sub-region and across Uganda. The Ministry’s engagement includes a tour of the university’s facilities, exploring its infrastructure and research capacity one facility and one laboratory at a time. #STIUganda #STIWorks

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, led by Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, was warmly welcomed by the leadership and community of Lira University at its campus in Ayere Cell, Barapwo Ward, Lira City West Division, Lira City. The welcoming team included the Vice Chancellor, Professor Jasper Ogwal Okeng; Chairperson of the University Council, Mr. David Opiokello; Vice Chairperson of the University Council, Ms. Nellie Florence Okullo; the Chairperson of the University Appointments Board; and members of the university community. The Ministry looks forward to a fruitful engagement with Lira University. #STIUganda #STIWorks

𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝑯𝒐𝒏. 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒖𝒏𝒊 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 :- During the visit to @Muni_University in Arua, the Hon. Minister met with university leaders and students, toured research and innovation facilities, and viewed projects presented by students. The discussions focused on strengthening university–industry collaboration, supporting innovation and incubation pathways, and translating research into practical solutions, marketable products and enterprises that contribute to Uganda’s development. #STIUganda #STIWorks

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Universities are important centres for generating knowledge, advancing research and developing practical solutions to societal challenges. Their work can improve livelihoods and enhance productivity. The Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President is working to strengthen the role of universities in Uganda’s development, in line with the long-standing vision of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to harness science, technology and innovation as drivers of national progress. Through engagements with universities across the country, the Ministry seeks to strengthen collaboration among academia, industry and communities, helping translate research, innovation and talent into practical solutions that advance Uganda’s industrialisation and socio-economic transformation. #STIUganda #STIWorks #ResearchCommercialisation @SorotiUniversi1 @Muni_University @GuluVarsity

The Hon. Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, is conducting a comprehensive tour of Gulu University’s facilities, which support a wide range of academic and research activities. During the tour, he met young innovators developing solutions to challenges faced by farmers, addressing traffic concerns and improving home security. Commercialising research and industrialising prototypes and proven ideas are among the pathways to growth envisaged under Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy. The Minister will later hold a high-level strategic meeting with the university leadership to assess its strengths, challenges and opportunities, and agree on how best to advance this agenda. #STIUganda #STIWorks

The Hon. Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, has been warmly welcomed this afternoon at Gulu University in Gulu City by the Vice Chancellor, Professor George Openjueu Ladaah, and the Chairperson of the University Council, Mrs. Theresa Mary Obbo, together with the teaching staff and the university community. The engagement is expected to be a fruitful day of discussion and collaboration. #STIUganda #STIWorks @GuluVarsity

Today, the Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President will engage with Gulu University in a bid to strengthen the role of universities as engines of socio-economic transformation. #STIUganda #STIWorks @GuluVarsity

From Research to Industry: Unlocking the Potential of University Innovation. The Ministry’s ambition is to see universities recognised not only for the graduates they produce, but also for the innovations they develop, the enterprises they nurture, the industries they support and the problems they solve. "The future of science lies not only in what we discover, but also in what we transform through those discoveries." Ho. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki was quoted. sti.go.ug/from-research-to-i… #STIUganda #STIWorks #MuniUniversity #ResearchAndInnovation #Industry40 #UniversityIndustryCollaboration #InnovationCommercialisation #Uganda

Before a high-level strategic meeting with Muni University’s leadership and lecturers, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, and the STI Secretariat team toured the university’s facilities and laboratories and engaged with students showcasing their innovations. The Minister commended the students for pursuing their studies while developing innovative ideas. He encouraged them to create solutions that are marketable in Uganda and capable of attracting interest from global companies in fields such as automotive technology and healthcare. He reminded them of the President’s call for Uganda to take the lead in science, technology and innovation, and emphasised the need to build a knowledge-led, science- and innovation-driven country. #STIUganda #STIWorks