Uganda: ICT minister asks universities to engage in transformation

MINISTER of information and communications technology, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has asked universities to engage in transformation which will help in solving national social-economic problems. While launching research agenda at Makerere School of Computing and Information Technology recently, Dr. Rugunda said government had partnered with universities to deal with the challenges of improving the quality of Uganda’s population in terms of livelihoods and economic activities.

byPC Tech

December 5, 2011

He however added that research and development projects in institutions of higher learning were carried out on a small-scale due to limited funds.

“Government is planning to mobilize funds for selected universities,” he explained.

“It will encourage industries to set up centres at university level to focus on joint projects,establish IT parks and incubators equipped with modern facilities to provide one stop shops for researchers and investors in the IT industry.”

Government recognized the four research groups of Makerere University for their efforts towards solving the social and economic challenges.

As government we derive a lot of pleasure when our institutions of higher learning are involved in innovations. It shows that they are dynamic and can help the country cope with the changes that are taking place in the world, the minister intimated.

Government also plans to partner with Makerere University to market its research projects outside the country, New Vision reports.

Among the invented devices that were exhibited at the launch included crop disease monitor, automated microscopic diagnosis and intelligent road congestion monitor.

Dr. Joseph Nabukenya, the Dean of the school, asked government to provide more funds intended for issues affecting the country.

“The current sh390m budget cannot cater for the 20 projects we have,” she said. “The faculty pooled the funds from students’ tuitions. It wants sh500m.”