Dr. Monica Musenero, Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, urged Makerere University to prioritise industrial research during Day 3 of the Makerere University Research and Innovation Week (RIWEEK 2025).
She questioned whether investing more in industrial research would generate the economic drive Uganda needs, emphasising that most of the research conducted is basic and not directly linked to industrial growth.
“If I put more money in the Industrial Research. Will it work? Will we get the economic drive we need?” Dr. Musenero asked.
She urged the university to align its research with the national agenda, as outlined in Vision 2040, and shift focus to innovations that solve real-world problems.
“The University needs to see itself as intertwined with the agenda of the state. I want to plead with you,” she added.
Dr. Musenero also pointed out the lack of intellectual property registration in Uganda, warning that the absence of patents means missed opportunities.
“Professors outside, their pension is intellectual property. They have patents. They retire with royalties with money from their research. If you don’t have IPs registered, know that year is a loss,” she said, stressing the importance of IP for Uganda’s economic future.
According to data from the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), only 2.6% of registered research between 2016 and 2024 was industrial.
“Analysis of Research registered by UNCST during the period 2016-2024 shows that 2.6% of this research is industrial; 22.5% is evaluation, while 74.9% is Basic,” she noted, calling for more research that directly addresses market demands.
Dr. Musenero also reinforced the need for a shift in mindset, urging universities to focus on practical innovations rather than purely academic achievements.
“Before you think for others, Have you thought for the Pearl of Africa? A University aligned to the national agenda plays a strategic role to national transformation.We want to be a transformed modern state, ” she said.
