Scientific knowledge and the resulting technological innovations are now very well understood to be the key drivers for global sustainable economic growth and transformation. To this end, Government of Uganda has taken significant initiatives that promote science and technology (S&T) and

their integration into all productive sectors of the economy through formulation of policies and programmes for advancement of science education, research and development, technology transfer and adaptation, as well as technology commercialisation through value addition to agricultural production and outputs of the other sectors of the national Economy. In pursuing these initiatives, Government is committed to establishing regional and international strategic alliances for the advancement of science, technology and innovation for the socio-economic transformation of Uganda.  
It is against this background that Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Government of the Republic of South Africa signed a bilateral cooperation agreement in science and technology in Pretoria on 16th April 2009. Hon. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu (MP), the Minister of State for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (Planning) signed on behalf of the Uganda Government, while Hon. Mosibudi Mangena, Minister of Science and Technology signed on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa.
Hon. Kamuntu’s delegation consisted of Hon. Charles Ngabirano and Hon. Edward Baliddawa, 00Chairpersons of the Standing Committees of Parliament on Science and Technology (S&T) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), respectively; as well as S&T policy coordination staff from Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The signing ceremony was also witnessed by the Uganda High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa.
The agreement aims at promoting the development of scientific and technological cooperation between Uganda and South Africa on the basis of equality and mutual advantage, and specifically provides, inter alia, for:
•    Exchange of scientists, researchers, experts, bursary holders and course participants;
•    Exchange of scientific and technological information and documentation;
•    Organisation of bilateral scientific and technological seminars and courses in common fields of interest; and
•    Identification of scientific and technological problems, drawing up implementation of joint research programmes and the implementation of the results thereof in industry, agriculture and other identified fields of activity, as well as the exchange of experience and know-how acquired in these sectors.
The signing of this Agreement intensifies existing collaborations between Ugandan and South African scientists and technologists, and creates new opportunities for cooperation in important areas such as information and communication technologies, health, education, manufacturing, value addition, energy, indigenous knowledge systems, materials science and engineering, biodiversity conservation, among others.
Implementation of the Agreement is coordinated in Uganda by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) on behalf of Uganda Government, and in South Africa by the Department of Science and Technology on behalf of the South African Government.  
Scientists, technologists, innovators and all stakeholders in science and technology are hereby informed of this important undertaking and are highly encouraged to take full advantage of the enabling framework which is now established to advance science and technology not only in Uganda, but also the entire continent of Africa.
Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement Between Government Of Uganda And Republic Of South Africa