Makerere University has entered into a five-year collaboration with The African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD), a regional research firm, to enhance research efforts aimed at addressing existing and emerging challenges in the East African region. AICAD secured the bid from the National Research Foundation (NRF) to become the regional node for the African Open Science Platform (AOSP) in the East African region.
AICAD, which is jointly owned by the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, serves as a regional organization that connects university-generated technologies with communities to combat poverty. While its headquarters are located at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, it also has country offices in Uganda.
According to Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, AICAD, which he describes as a gift to East Africa from the Japanese government, plays a vital role in poverty eradication through scientific research and knowledge dissemination for the benefit of the community.
The collaboration with AICAD will enable researchers to develop practical solutions to societal problems and ensure the wide dissemination of relevant research to interested parties. AICAD will also work towards making research accessible to its intended beneficiaries. Professor Nawangwe emphasized that the partnership aligns with Makerere University’s goal of becoming a research-based institution.
The university aims to leverage AICAD’s strategic plan over the next five years to further its research objectives and collectively address the region’s unique research challenges.
Dr. Gaston Ampe Tumuhimbise, the Director of AICAD Uganda Country Office, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating that it provides stakeholders with access to publicly funded research, which can be utilized for national and regional development.
AICAD will promote and facilitate the utilization of research findings by private entrepreneurs, including research conducted by other public universities outside Uganda.
Furthermore, the partnership will encourage interaction and collaboration between local and regional researchers, facilitating the development of practical solutions. Professor Nawangwe also mentioned that Makerere University researchers have conducted extensive research on the government’s poverty eradication program, the Parish Development Model, to identify any implementation shortcomings.