As the world surges into the fourth industrial revolution, Uganda is positioning itself at the forefront of the technological transformation. In a recent discussion on UBC Front Bench with officials from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero and Dr. Cosmas Mwikirize shared insights on how to harness science, technology, and innovation (STI) as the engine for a tenfold economic growth.
Dr. Musenero opened the dialogue with a rallying cry: “There is an industrial revolution going on, and this is the first one we are participating in as a country and as a continent. We cannot afford to miss it.” Unlike previous revolutions, which Uganda and Africa largely observed from the sidelines, the fourth industrial revolution, marked by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and digital connectivity, is seen as a pivotal moment for homegrown innovation.
“Science, technology, and innovation (STI) are not just sectors; they are the fuel for every sector,” Dr. Musenero remarked. She likened their role of STI in Uganda’s economy to an airplane taking off: “Once you shift from taxing to flight, everything changes —you don’t have new technologies driving healthcare, transportation, agriculture, or manufacturing.” Adding “That’s what science does for an economy. It is the only tool that helps an economy shift from one level to another.”
Detailing specific industrial value chains, Dr. Mwikirize highlighted eight priority areas driving Uganda’s 10-fold economic growth target. Among these, he mentioned mobility and the pathogen economy stand out. Dr. Mwikirize highlighted Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), Uganda’s flagship electric vehicle manufacturer, as a success story. “Kiira Motors is already the largest electric bus plant in Africa, employing over 700 youth and aiming to produce 5,000 vehicles annually,” he said. The initiative has spurred a domestic automotive supply chain, with 40% local content in components.
Uganda’s push to reduce reliance on imported pharmaceuticals gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local scientists at Makerere University developed affordable PCR testing kits that halve the cost of imports, saving Uganda over US$37 million (approx. UGX134.5 billion) on 2 million tests. “We were saved US$37 million through import substitution,” Dr. Mwikirize noted, underscoring how innovation addresses public health and economic challenges.
He also noted that the secretariat is advancing robotics, smart electronics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen Uganda’s manufacturing backbone.
“These are pathfinder initiatives,” Dr. Mwikirize said.
A hallmark of Uganda’s STI approach is inter-ministerial collaboration. Dr. Musenero emphasized that siloed ministries had historically stifled progress. “Science doesn’t work in silos,” mused Dr. Musenero. For instance, advancing e-mobility relies on partnerships with the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environment (for pollution control), and the Ministry of ICT. “We bring the different sectors together, coordinate the work, and mobilize resources. It makes work cheaper and more effective,” she explained.
The Deep Tech Centre of Excellence in Namave is central to Uganda’s STI infrastructure. Over the past four years, it has fostered end-to-end design and manufacturing of electronics: water meters, electric meters, pump controllers, drones, calculators, laptops, and plug-and-play “stick computers” for digital classrooms. Therefore, it also relies on partnerships with the ICT and energy sectors.
Acknowledging that cutting-edge technology demands skilled talent, Dr. Mwikirize described “rapid conversion programs” to upgrade researchers into industry-ready professionals. “There’s no STI system better than the quality of its human capital,” he said. Beyond technical training, these programs instill ideology, patriotism, and integrity—soft skills vital for sustained innovation.
The ministry’s innovation fund, which is described as Uganda’s “democratic fund” for anyone from students to professors to pursue projects aligned with national value chains, has nurtured over 100 ventures at various stages, from ideation to market.
Dr. Musenero urged grassroots innovators to engage through the Secretariat’s one-stop centre to assist burgeoning entrepreneurs. “Our support to innovators is not only financial,” she said. “The first support is to discuss with them, to understand how they’ve structured their innovation because innovation only matters when you can sell it.”
When asked about mitigating the threats of innovations, particularly AI, Dr. Musenero acknowledged public fears of job losses and academic erosion. “Industrial revolutions are irresistible forces. You either learn to flow with them or they crush you,” she said. “Instead of resisting AI, we’re building dams to harness its power.”
During National Science Week, which is slated to take place from June 15–20, the Secretariat will explore how AI should reshape education, shifting from rote memorization to value-creation skills. Dr. Musenero called the public to attend the event to experience the future of science, technology, and innovation.
