Muni University to be one of the Research and Innovations pilot universities, says Minister Asiimwe
Jubilant staff and students of Muni University pose for a group photo with Eng. Asiimwe on Thursday. COURTESY PHOTO
ARUA CITY – The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Office of the President, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, has announced that Muni University will be one of the pilot universities for Research and Innovations in the country.
He pledged the government’s support for the university’s efforts in advancing science and innovation, with the goal of boosting Uganda’s technological and innovative capacity.
“My coming here to Muni University is to see how we can lift the industrial revolution in Northern Uganda. How can we carry those ideas of the young people in this region, how can we support the University in their laboratories, how can we support the University in capacity building. And how can we increase more scholarships here, more so for things which are related to Research and Innovations,” Eng. Asiimwe said.
The Minister made the remarks on Thursday during a visit to Muni University to assess research and innovation activities aimed at generating practical solutions, marketable products, businesses, and employment opportunities.
He was welcomed by members of the University’s Top Management, led by Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Simon Anguma Katrini, and Arua Resident City Commissioner Maj. (Rtd) Betty Akello.
Before a high-level strategic meeting with the university’s leadership and lecturers, Eng. Asiimwe and the STI Secretariat team toured the university’s facilities and laboratories and engaged with students showcasing their innovations.
Eng. Asiimwe commended the students for pursuing their studies while developing innovative ideas. He encouraged them to create solutions that are marketable in Uganda and capable of attracting interest from global companies in fields such as automotive technology and healthcare.
Eng. Asiimwe reminded them of the President’s call for Uganda to take the lead in science, technology, and innovation, and emphasized the need to build a knowledge-led, science- and innovation-driven country.
The Minister noted that Uganda is looking at making better use of available space and opportunities to harvest benefits from them.
“So, it is very good that when we meet these people, we discuss a number of things and see how you can pull the future of these young people. So, I encourage everybody; don’t be tied only to the central universities there in Kampala, just move around Uganda. We have Muni University here with cool air and it is very cold,” Asiimwe remarked.
Asiimwe observed that many universities have been practicing education from version 2.0 up to around 3.0, but the goal now is to move to 5.0 — focusing not merely on the industrial revolution of 4.0, but on education itself that combines theory with practical simulations.
“For example, we no longer want laboratories which are basic. In 5.0, we want simulations in laboratories. The laboratory should have all parts in simulation so that when a student learns that, he can go into any factory and become a senior in that field and be consulted everywhere. So, we want to see how we can make our students compete with other international students,” Asiimwe said.
He added: “We are avoiding the issue where a student learns and graduates with civil engineering or automotive engineering, but when taken to compete with other students, he can never compete and they tell him to first study for two more years. We want to start it within the undergraduate level so that we can see most prototypes moving out of the university to make money.”
The Minister urged Muni University’s administration to work closely with the technical team in his ministry to conduct a deliberate study on the need to improve the laboratories at the government institution. He stressed that the university should be guided by technical experts from the ministry on the equipment needed. The current state of the laboratories, he noted, is suitable for basic learning but not adequate to equip students with the knowledge required to compete effectively on the global stage.
The Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Office of the President is working to strengthen the role of universities in Uganda’s development, in line with the long-standing vision of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to harness science, technology, and innovation as drivers of national progress.
Through engagements with universities across the country, the Ministry seeks to strengthen collaboration among academia, industry, and communities, helping translate research, innovation, and talent into practical solutions that advance Uganda’s industrialization and socio-economic transformation.
Universities remain important centers for generating knowledge, advancing research, and developing practical solutions to societal challenges. Their work can improve livelihoods and enhance productivity.