Science and Technology is the engine for economic growth and social transformation. It is, therefore, important for Government to invest in science and technology. A key element of such investment is to increase support to research and research capacity development.

Research work in Uganda tripled over the last 10 years from about 100 new research projects registered with UNCST in 1997/98 to over 300 new research projects registered in financial year 2006/07; and R&D spending also nearly tripled from Uganda Shillings 31 billion in 2003/04 to approximately Uganda Shillings 82 billion in 2007/08 (which accounts for about 0.4% of GDP in 2007/08). Government should sustain higher annual increases in R&D spending to reach at least 1% of GDP in the medium term. This spending could be directed more towards supporting research programmes aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, adding value to agricultural products and other bio-resources, understanding disease and developing new biopharmaceuticals supported by the rich indigenous knowledge base, developing new materials for construction and manufacturing, finding alternative methods of waste management and pollution control, using information and communication technologies to improve service delivery, enhancing nutrition of children, developing efficient and environmentally benign energy systems, and improving water quality and sanitation at the community and in the households. The most appropriate mode of delivering support for research and research capacity development appears to be through national competitive grants funding schemes administered transparently, focusing on the merit of proposals and strictly adhering to rules of competition. The Uganda MSI funding facility and the NARS competitive grants are good starting points, and should be consolidated. To begin with, government could make Uganda Shillings 10 to 16 billion available annually to scientists and technologists through the funding facility already established at the UNCST.Also, actors within the research system should interact more and build synergies among themselves to promote innovation. Therefore, the creation of multidisciplinary research groups and/or strengthening local inter-institutional and regional and international collaborations and research partnerships is essential to propel Uganda’s research enterprise forward.

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