Makerere displays research agenda at innovation showcase

Makerere University, one of the oldest educational institutions in Uganda, has put the work of about 80 of its researchers on display during a research and innovation week, which ended on 10 April.

The Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund, a home-grown initiative established in 2019 to generate credible evidence that would contribute towards Uganda’s national priorities and accelerate sustainable development, supported the three-day event that was attended by higher education stakeholders, policy-makers, researchers, funders, and international development partners interested in African higher education and innovation ecosystems.

“Universities remain at the centre of the knowledge economy; they contribute to development and transformation by generating research and innovation.

“Makerere University places inquisitiveness in the minds of its faculties and students to investigate and to know what is and what could be and as a research-led institution, we aim to provide evidence that is required by government, industry and various stakeholders as part of national development,” said Dr Zahara Nampewo, the executive director of the Human Rights and Peace Centre at Makerere University’s school of law, at the opening.

What was on display?

“The themes that are guiding our exhibition are taken from different disciplines of health and health systems, where we are looking at how we can improve the health of Ugandan communities and meet the targets of the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] by enhancing healthcare for all.

“We are also exhibiting on agricultural transformation, food security and livelihoods. Uganda is a ‘food basket’ and our researchers in these fields are exploring how we can maximise the potential to feed our nation and provide adequate nutritious food for our growing African region.

“We are also exhibiting on natural resources management and climate change. Climate change is a growing issue that is at the heart of what our researchers are focusing on,” added Nampewo.

She added that, through the exhibitions, academic presentations and policy dialogues, Makerere University had reaffirmed its role as a beacon of knowledge in the region with a long-standing commitment to impactful research, innovative leadership and collaborative learning.

Towards job creation and empowerment

Makerere University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, highlighted that conducting credible research that could be applied within society and developing the skills of its graduates and researchers were some of the institution’s strengths.

“The latest ranking by the Times Higher Education ranked Makerere as the best university as far as impact on the community is concerned. Our researchers are in the communities helping the farmers, helping those in fisheries and other services. Our institute of infectious diseases caters for almost 30% of all HIV/Aids patients in the whole country who need antiretroviral treatment,” said Nawangwe.

“In the past four years that we have received funding, we have supported more than 1,300 research projects and, of those, 560 have actually come up with products that can go out into the market,” he stated.

He said the United Nations Development Programme has supported Makerere University in establishing the university board which is where researchers were being trained on how to incubate innovative ideas to become real businesses that can contribute towards job creation and youth empowerment.

“When our innovation pod is fully operational and has more facilities, we aim to develop a fully fledged science and technology centre which will be producing at least 500 start-up companies each year, allowing our academic institution to contribute towards the economic development of our country,” Nawangwe added.

Addressing urgent societal needs

Lorna Magara, the chairperson of the Makerere University council, outlined that the conference was a celebration of the transformative role of research and innovation in advancing Uganda’s development agenda.

The exhibitions were not just academic endeavours, but they reflected Makerere University’s enduring role as a centre of excellence which went beyond merely being an innovation hub.

She noted that, for years, Makerere’s research had been funded by international partners which many times created misalignment with institutional and national priorities. The establishment of the government-funded research and innovation fund had enabled the university to redefine its research priorities and to invest in areas of strategic national importance.

“At Makerere University, we strongly believe that research and innovation are the engines for realising the vision for wealth creation and economic prosperity. We have charged our scholars and researchers with a clear mandate to prioritise research that addresses the most urgent needs of our society.

“We hold that the true worth of a public university lies in its capacity to positively transform the lives of its citizens. Our exhibitions confront critical challenges in health and environmental sustainability and other vital areas that contribute to our country’s long-term prosperity,” she said.