Kampala – Members of Parliament sitting on science and technology are currently touring projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Science Technology under the hospice of Dr. Monica Musenero.
On Monday 29th April, they visited Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) and the MPs led by Alex Niyonsaba, Bufumbira South County Legislator, the Chairperson of the Committee were somewhat impressed during the oversight visit of the selected industrial value chain for the National Development Plan Three (NDPIII).
In his submission, MP Niyonsaba tasked the management of the National Science Technology and Innovation (NSTEI) centre in Namanve industrial Park Mukono district to explain the formalities of young unemployed engineers all over the country can benefit from the facility.
He also wondered why the facility is not fully operational yet construction was completed over a year ago. “From the last time we were here, I haven’t seen any change in the human traffic in this place. What is the problem?” he questioned. The chairperson also requested for a detailed report on strides so far made by the centre, and a strategic plans for their programs that will be rolled out.
The management was also tasked to provide accountability of how the funds allocated by Parliament have been utilized for its intended purpose of promoting STI activities.
The members of the committee said that all they are concerned with is to see results in terms of locally manufactured goods.
The Members also noted gender inequality gaps whereby 90% of the staff at the Namanve centre are men, leaving the women out.
Another issue that the MPs raised was what innovations are the scientists coming up with to solve issues of post-harvest handling whereby agricultural products which are perishable in nature like tomatoes and green vegetables through value addition.
Peter Urien, the Undersecretary Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation in response said that they are working towards having value for money for every penny they get from the government. He said that there was a delay in the operalisation of the projects because they were still at the implementation phase which he says was completed.
He added that the recruitment of the trainer of trainers was done in China and they are now back in the country and they are going to have their final training later this year. He requested the MPs to ensure that funds are allocated for the project so that come June 2024, they can fully take off with the operation of the centre.
Prof. Charles Kwesiga; the executive director of Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) in submission to the Committee said that it is impossible to industrialise without modern machinery, adding that with the current state of affairs it is proving to be a challenge to get the required machinery.
He said that most Ugandan engineers are far behind in terms of acclimatisation with modern technology which makes it very hard to employ them.
He said that during a work trip last week in Addis Ababa on the invitation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, he was able to sign an MoU with a partner and UIRI is going to be manufacturing smart water metres and transformers from Namanve.
He also said that they are set to start manufacturing radios with the capacity to manufacture 30 radios at the start.
However, Prof. Kwesiga threw a veiled attack on the line Minister of Science Technology and Innovation whom he said is out of touch with activities ongoing at UIRI and needs to find time and visit the facility.
Some of the challenges faced by UIRI include inadequate budgetary allocation compounded by release shortfalls which has resulted into failure to fully operationalise MMISDC, failure to complete projects on time and inability to honour various obligations including contractual commitments.
There is also the challenge of high staff attrition occasioned by competing needs for a limited pool of specialised and experienced personnel engaging in similar endeavours. The poaching of high-value UIRI staff is a case in point which is largely attributed to UIRI’s remuneration and staff benefits which are lower compared to their competitors.
UIRI was allocated Shs25.502 billion in the financial year 2022/2023 but only Shs22.589 billion was released according to a document seen by this publication.
STI Committee chairperson and members overview of the projects so far visited
On the two projects visited at Namanve Industrial Park, said that Technology Business Incubation Centre and UIRI are good projects but have some duplication issues whereby one project is headed by the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCST) which is supposed to be a regulator but surprisingly is carrying out implementation of projects at TBIC, which should have been a mandate of UIRI. However, he said that those are only administrative issues that can be solved.
About the Mpooma ground station for space science centre in Mukono, Engineer Niyonsaba said it is another area which is important for the country which is a strategic one, and its progress is being curtailed by lack of funds, which he says will be handled by the committee when they go back to parliament.
James Kubeketerya, the Bunyole East County who is a member of the STI committee in parliament, told journalists on the sideline of the visit that UIRI is well equipped with the necessary machinery but the only thing that is lacking is capital. He added that if UIRI is allocated Shs200 billion as seed capital to start full scale production, it would become self-sustaining as it will be making sales from the products it will be producing.
He also reiterated the chairperson’s view that UNCST should be a regulator and not an implementer of the projects, saying that it should be left to UIRI.
Concerning the Mpooma satellite center, he said that all that is needed is more funding and collaboration with other countries like Ethiopia who are way ahead of Uganda in space science and technology.