“What Next Now That Uganda’s Scientific Innovation Are Market-Ready?”

By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1446 EAT on Friday 4 July 2025

At this year’s National Science Week held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Uganda’s message was bold and unmistakable: the country is ready to take its science and innovation to market.

More than just showcasing prototypes and research, the event highlighted Uganda’s drive to position itself as a competitive player in high-impact sectors such as electronic manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

Government leaders, researchers, and industry stakeholders gathered to celebrate not only past achievements but also to chart the path forward one where Ugandan-made innovations are scaled for domestic use and exported to regional and global markets.

Two bold claims stood out during National Science Week: Uganda’s intent to manufacture semiconductors and its push to scale up domestic electronics production. The announcements generated both excitement and skepticism among observers.

As Frank Kisakye reports, many Ugandans are questioning how a country still grappling with pothole-ridden roads and recurring urban flooding can seriously entertain the prospect of fabricating microchips one of the most advanced and capital-intensive technologies in the world.

But according to Dr. Cosmas Mwikirize, superintendent of industrial value chains at the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat (STI-OP), the vision is neither naïve nor premature.

“We are not claiming that Uganda will build a full-fledged semiconductor foundry overnight,” he explained. “But laying the groundwork today is essential if we are to compete in the high-tech economy of tomorrow.”

According to Dr. Mwikirize, Uganda’s ambitions aren’t built on fantasy they’re grounded in tangible progress. “We’re no longer theorizing about science,” he said. “We’re building it. We’re living it.”

Since 2021, investments in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) have reportedly led to the creation of more than 70,000 high-quality jobs, attracted over Shs 3.4 trillion in venture capital, and enabled the training of nearly 3,000 industrial scientists.

These achievements, Mwikirize argues, form the foundation on which Uganda can now begin to scale its innovation ecosystem into more complex sectors like semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.

Uganda’s innovation push isn’t just theoretical it’s being felt on factory floors. The country now boasts an annual production capacity of 10,000 vehicles, backed by a growing ecosystem of 21 component manufacturers producing key parts such as brake pads, batteries, and digital control systems.

During his recent budget speech, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija highlighted a major regional breakthrough: Uganda has signed a letter of intent to supply more than 37,000 electric buses to West Africa, signaling rising confidence in the country’s manufacturing capabilities and export potential.

This development underscores the broader STI vision one that not only promotes local innovation but also positions Uganda as a serious player in the green and digital industrial revolution unfolding across Africa.

Uganda’s ambitions also extend well beyond the mobility sector. The country is actively positioning itself as a continental leader in the “pathogen economy,” particularly in the areas of diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.

At the forefront of this effort is Makerere University, where researchers developed a locally made PCR testing kit that played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic. The kits were used in over 2 million tests, saving the government an estimated Shs 140 billion in import costs.

This success, officials say, has become a blueprint for scaling local biotechnological innovation reducing dependence on imports and building sovereign capacity to respond to future health crises across Africa.

Ugandan innovation is also making real-world impact through companies like Microhaem Scientific, a local firm now producing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria and HIV/AIDS, already deployed in hospitals across the country.

As Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, noted during National Science Week, science in Uganda is no longer confined to “lab coats and equations.” Instead, it is increasingly interwoven with business, policy, and everyday life.

“For science to transform Uganda, it must work hand-in-hand with non-scientists—those who register companies, market products, and move innovations into homes and businesses,” Dr. Musenero emphasized.

At the core of this integration is the Innovation, Technology Development & Transfer (ITDT) program, designed to bridge efforts across ministries, departments, and agencies.

This coordinated approach, managed by the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat (STI-OP), ensures that investments in research and technology translate into solutions aligned with national development goals.

On the policy front, the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat has chosen a path of cautious flexibility. Instead of rushing to implement rigid laws that risk becoming obsolete, Uganda is adopting an “active learning” approach drawing lessons from the experiences of over 30 countries to shape its STI legal and regulatory frameworks.

This adaptive strategy aims to keep Uganda’s innovation ecosystem agile, responsive, and aligned with rapidly evolving global scientific and technological trends.

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