News from MUST

UNCST Awards $ 1,250,000 to Pharmacy Department

The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) has awarded Pharmacy department $1,250,000 under the Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) to strengthen undergraduate programs in the department.

This announcement was made by the Executive Director of Uganda National Council for Science and Technology Dr. Peter Ndemere on Friday, 25 September at the closing ceremony of the National Science Week at the Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo, Kampala. 

The Head of the Pharmacy department Professor Amon Agaba said the money will be spent on strengthening curriculum and infrastructure development for the Bachelor of Pharmacy and Science Pharmaceutical Science programs. The money will also be used to promote research in phytomedicines and natural products.

The MSI is a reform program by the Government of Uganda to assist Uganda’s universities and research institutes to produce more and better qualified science and engineering graduates. The project also aims at promoting more relevant, higher quality research for enhancing science and technology-led growth and economic transformation. The initiative is aimed at curtailing brain drain in the science and technology field by encouraging talented Ugandan researchers to remain in the country and devote their skills to research and training. It will open up opportunities for young Ugandans to make their careers in areas of science, technology, and engineering that are critical to national development, while at the same time decreasing the disconnect between academia and the private sector who apply technology in production. This World Bank supported program aimed at boosting Uganda’s productivity and competitiveness through scientific and technological advancement was launched by President Museveni in February 2007.