Ugandan council hosts research dissemination conference

The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) hosted the 2025 annual research dissemination conference in partnership with the Network of Early and Mid-career Researchers in Africa, NEMRA.

The conference was held on 1-2 July at the Yusuf Lule CTF Auditorium, Makerere University, Uganda.

The two-day event gathered graduate students, early-career researchers, and seasoned scholars to share findings, foster collaboration, and drive forward a shared research agenda rooted in Africa’s development priorities.

According to Martin Ongol, executive secretary of UNCST, the conference is part of a broader effort to bridge research with real-world impact.

In his address, he noted the importance of translating research and ideas into services, products, and solutions that solve societal challenges and foster economic growth and transformation.

“There’s a lot of effort to ensure that knowledge generated is transformed into productive transformational output. We are in a knowledge-based economy,” he said.

At the conference, Augustus Nuwagaba, the deputy governor of Bank of Uganda, encouraged researchers to patent their innovations to attract investors globally and boost economic growth.

The conference featured paper presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) supports research ecosystems that empower local talent and drive innovation across Africa and conferences that disseminate research outcomes such as this.

UNCST, a key SGCI partner, plays a pivotal role in Uganda’s research funding landscape, strengthening policies, supporting early-career researchers, and promoting the use of evidence in decision-making.

This conference also mirrors the broader mission of the SGCI to empower national science systems, promote evidence-informed policymaking, and ensure that African-led research responds to local challenges and opportunities.

As a member of the SGCI, UNCST has benefited from increased capacity for managing research grants and oversight.

SGCI has enabled UNCST to run competitive research calls that align with Uganda’s National Development Plan and Sustainable Development Goals.

SGCI funding supports research projects that translate findings into real-world solutions.

These projects focus on areas that strengthen public-private partnerships, particularly in industrialisation and manufacturing value chains.

This ensures research directly contributes to social progress and economic resilience.

Learn more about SGCI’s work in Uganda.

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Published on 22 July 2025

Written by Jackie Opara