Mbarara University Chancellor Asks Government for More Research Funding

By Christopher Bendana,

Kampala

Prof. Pauline Byakiika Kibwika, Vice Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), has called on the Ugandan government to allocate at least UGX 15 billion annually for research to enable the university to contribute effectively to societal solutions.

She made the appeal while addressing Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who was the guest of honour at the Ninth Africa Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth), held at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

“Increase funding for research and innovation to at least 15 billion shillings,” Byakiika urged. She noted that MUST currently receives only UGX 1 billion in research grants per year, compared to UGX 30 billion allocated to Makerere University, yet both are public institutions.

Byakiika emphasized that with adequate resources, African universities could train students to meet the continent’s evolving needs, including vaccine development and other bio-innovations. She cited MUST’s track record in innovation, including COVIDEX—a Covid-19 stabilizer developed by Dr. Patrick Ogwang.

“African universities must not only be consumers of technologies from elsewhere,” she stated.

At the conference, MUST students showcased various innovations, including bio-pesticides, herbal creams, and a breast cancer candle.

Dr. Bernard Omech, a lecturer in internal medicine and public health at Lira University, expressed concern over the dire funding situation at his institution. Speaking to Sciencenowmag on the sidelines of the event, he revealed, “We only receive 500 million shillings annually. We are asking for two billion to help build capacity, and we are engaging the government on this.”

In her address, Prime Minister Nabbanja told delegates that Uganda has invested in research infrastructure and offers scientists higher salaries than those in humanities. She, however, challenged researchers to generate knowledge that addresses current realities.

She posed key questions to the scientists: How is their work improving maternal health care? How is it helping prevent childhood diseases? And how can they reduce preventable health burdens, particularly those linked to poor sanitation?

She also highlighted the National Monthly Cleaning Days, scheduled for 29 August from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, as part of efforts to address hygiene challenges.

Dr. Omech, who presented a paper on Integrated Person-Centred Care for Multimorbidity in sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from the M-Care Project, called for a health system that treats patients holistically rather than focusing on individual diseases.

The conference, held under the theme “From Innovation to Impact: Strengthening Health Education, Research and Service Delivery for a Resilient Africa,” looks at health from a multidisciplinary. Hosted by Mbarara University, the event ran from 24 to 26 August and attracted delegates from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

Participants included medical doctors, researchers, innovators, civil society representatives, academics, and policymakers. According to UNESCO, African countries spend only about 0.3% of their GDP on research and innovation, compared to nearly 3% in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia.