Minister Akello to scientists: Deliver tangible results or risk losing funding

The Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Ms Beatrice Akello, has warned scientists in the country to deliver tangible results or risk losing funding.

Speaking during a two-day field inspection visit to government-funded innovation projects at Makerere University on Wednesday, Ms Akello emphasized the need for scientists to translate their research into practical solutions that can drive economic growth and improve the lives of Ugandans.

"I am impressed with some of the innovations I’ve seen today, but I am also disappointed with a few that have not shown value for money," she said, adding:

"We need to see more innovation, more entrepreneurship, and more job creation. We need to see the impact of your innovations on the lives of ordinary Ugandans."

The minister highlighted several projects that she believed were worthy of continued funding, including a solar water pump project, a saliva diagnostic kit for malaria and COVID-19, and a project developing artificial intelligence-driven healthcare screening tools to help with the early detection and screening of cervical cancer and tuberculosis. These tools are also designed to monitor patients remotely, thereby reducing waiting times at healthcare facilities.

However, Ms Akello expressed concern about a human resource development project that she felt was not demonstrating value for money.

"I have directed the investigators to look into this project because the objectives are unclear, and the funds have not been well-utilized," she said.

The minister emphasized that while the government would continue to support innovation and research, funding would be contingent on results.

"We need to see a return on investment. We need to ensure that the money we are investing in these projects is being used effectively and efficiently," she stated.

Prof Moses Musinguzi, Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) at Makerere University, expressed satisfaction with the college's progress in innovation.

"I am pleased with our progress so far. The college has made significant strides, with some projects nearing commercialization, such as the solar pump project," he said.

By manufacturing solar pumps locally, the college aims to reduce costs through import substitution, cutting prices by almost 50%.

"The average price of an imported solar pump is about 4 million shillings, but if we manage to complete this locally-produced pump and bring it to market, the price will be under 2 million shillings," Mr. Musinguzi added.

However, the college faces challenges, including short implementation periods, intermittent electricity supply, and administrative issues related to procurement and clearance of materials.

Despite these challenges, the minister has promised to address some of these concerns.

"Research and innovation often take time, and sometimes innovators need sufficient time to complete their projects and bring products to market. That's why we are here—to monitor, identify gaps, and address them," she said.

The innovation efforts are part of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation's funding for innovation projects through the innovation fund, which was launched in the FY 2017/18. The fund aims to advance innovations from the pilot stage to commercial entities, with the goal of improving the competitiveness of the country’s goods and services and creating more jobs.