Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat🇺🇬

The Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat – Office of the President congratulates Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe upon his appointment as Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation. We look forward to working together to advance Uganda’s STI agenda and drive innovation towards the realization of the USD 500 billion economy. 🇺🇬 #STI #Innovation #Uganda

Preparing universities to respond to changing educational needs and global developments was central to a high-level strategic meeting at Lira University, led by Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President. Together with the STI Secretariat team, the Minister made commitments and presented proposals to strengthen the university’s role in this transformation. The Minister urged universities to prepare for students coming through the competency-based curriculum, equipped to reason, question and apply knowledge. Drawing on Darwin’s theory of natural selection, he emphasised that universities must adapt their teaching and research approaches to remain relevant. “If prisoners can generate income for a prison, why can’t students generate income for their university?” he challenged. He called on universities to translate knowledge and skills into practical solutions, products and enterprises that generate income and create jobs. Referring to President Trump’s sweeping policy changes and directives aimed at keeping America competitive, the Minister challenged universities to respond to global change with urgency. “Who are we to remain comfortable at such a defining moment in world history?” he asked, calling for a rethink of how universities teach, conduct research and translate innovation into wealth. #STIUganda #STIWorks

Lira University is home to the Regional Presidential Skilling Hub, where the Hon. Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, met young people from districts across the Lango sub-region who are gaining practical, income-generating skills. The Minister was encouraged to see students training in carpentry and joinery, masonry, tailoring, cosmetology and other fields. He offered start-up capital to two students: one studying carpentry and joinery, which he refers to as “CJ,” and a young lady studying cosmetology. Building on the Minister’s support, Ministry teams will follow up with the two students to assess how they apply their skills to generate income and respond to the needs of their communities. #STIUganda #STIWorks

With more than 600 acres of land and a large student population, Lira University has immense potential to contribute to development in the Lango sub-region and across Uganda. The Ministry’s engagement includes a tour of the university’s facilities, exploring its infrastructure and research capacity one facility and one laboratory at a time. #STIUganda #STIWorks

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, led by Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, was warmly welcomed by the leadership and community of Lira University at its campus in Ayere Cell, Barapwo Ward, Lira City West Division, Lira City. The welcoming team included the Vice Chancellor, Professor Jasper Ogwal Okeng; Chairperson of the University Council, Mr. David Opiokello; Vice Chairperson of the University Council, Ms. Nellie Florence Okullo; the Chairperson of the University Appointments Board; and members of the university community. The Ministry looks forward to a fruitful engagement with Lira University. #STIUganda #STIWorks

𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝑯𝒐𝒏. 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒖𝒏𝒊 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 :- During the visit to @Muni_University in Arua, the Hon. Minister met with university leaders and students, toured research and innovation facilities, and viewed projects presented by students. The discussions focused on strengthening university–industry collaboration, supporting innovation and incubation pathways, and translating research into practical solutions, marketable products and enterprises that contribute to Uganda’s development. #STIUganda #STIWorks

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Universities are important centres for generating knowledge, advancing research and developing practical solutions to societal challenges. Their work can improve livelihoods and enhance productivity. The Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation – 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 industrialisation and socio-economic transformation. #STIUganda #STIWorks #ResearchCommercialisation @SorotiUniversi1 @Muni_University @GuluVarsity

The Hon. Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, is conducting a comprehensive tour of Gulu University’s facilities, which support a wide range of academic and research activities. During the tour, he met young innovators developing solutions to challenges faced by farmers, addressing traffic concerns and improving home security. Commercialising research and industrialising prototypes and proven ideas are among the pathways to growth envisaged under Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy. The Minister will later hold a high-level strategic meeting with the university leadership to assess its strengths, challenges and opportunities, and agree on how best to advance this agenda. #STIUganda #STIWorks

The Hon. Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, has been warmly welcomed this afternoon at Gulu University in Gulu City by the Vice Chancellor, Professor George Openjueu Ladaah, and the Chairperson of the University Council, Mrs. Theresa Mary Obbo, together with the teaching staff and the university community. The engagement is expected to be a fruitful day of discussion and collaboration. #STIUganda #STIWorks @GuluVarsity

Today, the Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President will engage with Gulu University in a bid to strengthen the role of universities as engines of socio-economic transformation. #STIUganda #STIWorks @GuluVarsity

From Research to Industry: Unlocking the Potential of University Innovation. The Ministry’s ambition is to see universities recognised not only for the graduates they produce, but also for the innovations they develop, the enterprises they nurture, the industries they support and the problems they solve. "The future of science lies not only in what we discover, but also in what we transform through those discoveries." Ho. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki was quoted. sti.go.ug/from-research-to-i… #STIUganda #STIWorks #MuniUniversity #ResearchAndInnovation #Industry40 #UniversityIndustryCollaboration #InnovationCommercialisation #Uganda

Before a high-level strategic meeting with Muni University’s leadership and lecturers, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, and the STI Secretariat team toured the university’s facilities and laboratories and engaged with students showcasing their innovations. The Minister 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. He reminded them of the President’s call for Uganda to take the lead in science, technology and innovation, and emphasised the need to build a knowledge-led, science- and innovation-driven country. #STIUganda #STIWorks

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Today, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, is visiting Muni University in Arua. In a brief media interview, he thanked the Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Simon Anguma Katrini, and the university community for the warm welcome. The Minister described Muni as a beautiful institution with ample space, valuable resources and significant potential. He encouraged students from across Uganda to consider studying at Muni and called for greater recognition of the opportunities universities beyond Kampala offer for learning, research and national development. The Minister and the STI Secretariat team will spend the day engaging with the university community and touring its facilities. #STIUganda #STIWorks

Today, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Office of the President, continues his targeted engagements with universities with a visit to Muni University in Arua. The programme includes meetings with university leaders and students, followed by a tour of selected research and innovation facilities. The engagements will explore practical ways to turn university research into solutions, marketable products and enterprises that create jobs and address Ugandans’ needs. The Ministry is working with universities to strengthen research commercialisation and support industrialisation. This work contributes to Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy, anchored on ATMS. #STIUganda #STIWorks @Muni_University

Today, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – OP, represented H.E. President @KagutaMuseveni at the EDRM Conference organised by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. In his message, the President acknowledged NSSF’s innovative plans and its work in shaping emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. He encouraged Ugandans to support the development of homegrown ideas and innovations, rather than only enjoy innovations developed elsewhere. #STIUganda #STIWorks

Today, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation – OP, represented H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the closing ceremony of the 2026 EDRM Conference, organised by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. #STIUganda.

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Soroti University: Turning Research into Practical Solutions | Minister Jonard’s Visit. #STIUganda #STIWorks @SorotiUniversi1 @Sunlibdept