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The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Monica Musenero, has referred to as on Ugandans to embrace science, expertise and innovation as the inspiration for constructing industries, creating jobs and driving the nation’s financial transformation.
Speaking throughout a media briefing on the Uganda Media Centre on Monday (March 16), Musenero emphasised the necessity for the nation to transfer past conventional science training and deal with fashionable applied sciences that clear up real-life issues.
“Many of us studied science in the old times, but now we need the cutting edge of that science,” Musenero mentioned, noting that scientific information alone shouldn’t be sufficient except it’s translated into sensible applied sciences and improvements that profit society.
She defined that the event chain begins with scientists producing information, which is then remodeled into applied sciences by builders and in the end packaged into sensible options by innovators.
According to the minister, Uganda should strengthen every stage of this chain whether it is to tackle challenges comparable to unemployment and gradual industrial progress.
“The technology is there, for example, a solar panel, but the question is how do you make it create jobs and solve people’s problems,” she mentioned.
Musenero confused that after innovation, the following essential stage is manufacturing, which she described as one of the necessary sectors for Uganda’s future financial progress.
She famous that thousands and thousands of individuals will probably be wanted in manufacturing throughout varied professions, together with engineering, innovation administration and technical operations.
However, the minister expressed concern that Uganda at present faces a scarcity of individuals with the fitting sensible expertise to fill these roles.
“One of my biggest problems right now is that we cannot find people with the relevant skills, yet we have educated people,” she mentioned.
Musenero added that in some instances, corporations are pressured to import expert labour as a result of native graduates lack the competencies required by the evolving industrial sector.
She attributed this hole partly to coaching techniques that focus extra on tutorial information slightly than sensible and industry-oriented expertise.
Beyond manufacturing, Musenero additionally highlighted entrepreneurship as one other space the place Uganda wants pressing enchancment.
She described entrepreneurship as one of many scarcest expertise amongst younger individuals, regardless of it being important for reworking concepts into profitable companies.
“The entrepreneurship we are teaching is not helping the kind of street entrepreneurship that needs to be done,” she mentioned.
According to the minister, many companies in Uganda stay small and casual, with restricted capability to develop into sustainable enterprises.
“What we have here are very many small, informal businesses that are just waiting to die,” she mentioned.
Musenero urged Ugandans to deal with constructing sturdy, enduring companies that may survive throughout generations, related to corporations in different components of the world which have existed for many years and even centuries.
She additionally inspired professionals, college students and even retirees to take part in upcoming science and profession discussions geared toward serving to Ugandans determine alternatives inside the nation’s science-driven financial system.
Musenero famous that individuals who retire at round 60 years nonetheless have a long time of productive life forward and might use their expertise to contribute to innovation and enterprise growth.
“Even if you are already an engineer with a small job, don’t think that career guidance is not for you,” she mentioned.
The minister additional introduced plans for a serious engagement, the National Career Guidance Day on March 20, 2026, on the Kololo Independence Grounds, the place authorities leaders, scientists and training officers will work together with the general public on alternatives in science, expertise and innovation.
She mentioned the occasion is predicted to be attended by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady and Education Minister Mrs Janet Kataaha Museveni, amongst different stakeholders.
The engagement will characteristic discussions, exhibitions and interactive periods geared toward guiding younger individuals on profession decisions and exposing them to rising alternatives within the science and expertise sector.
Musenero mentioned the initiative is a part of authorities efforts to remodel scientific analysis into merchandise, industries and jobs that may speed up Uganda’s growth.
She urged Ugandans from all backgrounds to take part within the discussions, stressing that science shouldn’t be considered as a area reserved just for scientists.
“Even if you did not traditionally study science, come and see how you can benefit from it,” she mentioned.