Thursday, July 13, 2023, was yet another jovial day for Mbarara University of Science and Technology during a formal monitoring by the Parliament of Uganda Committee of Science, Technology and Innovations (STI). This was an attempt by Parliament to monitor the research and innovation resources provided by Government to different institutions. Honourable Members of Parliament (MP) of Uganda that compose the Parliamentary Committee of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) visited Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) on 13th July 2023 at the Kihumuro Campus. The team led by the STI Parliamentary Committee Chair Hon. Remigio Achia appreciated how MUST has used the one billion shillings given for research and innovations in the 2022/2023 financial year and the funds for Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE).
Other members of parliament were; Hon Dr. Abime Florence Akiiki, Hon. Alol Betty Ocan, Hon. Benard Odoi Onen Mutusa, Hon. Eng. Alex Niyonsaba, Hon. Maj (Rtd) Dr.Okullo J. Anthony, Hon. Najjuma Sarah, Hon. Clare Mugumya, Hon. Zawadde Victorious and Hon. Ssasaga Isaiah. The MPs also had Ms Acayo Gloria and Ms Alice Nyamwenge Musinguzi the Clerk to the STI Parliamentary Committee.
“We are very grateful to Parliament as an arm of Government and without your support I doubt if developments on this campus would be where they are. We appreciate the support that the Government of Uganda gives to MUST” Prof. Celestino Obua the Vice Chancellor of MUST emphasised as he welcomed the MPS.
He thanked them for enabling MUST to continue to realise its dream of a fully established university of science and technology by giving funds that advance this cause through research, innovations and construction of relevant infrastructure like Laboratories, the Library, hostels and the Faculty of Computing and Informatics.
With the increase in number of the science and technology students, Prof. Obua highlighted the need to make Kihumuro Campus more functional by providing more hostels and infrastructure for students to thrive. He also noted the need to have a fully established Faculty of Medicine (FOM) and emphasised that even though great doctors and health professionals are developed at MUST, the Professors and lecturers teach under very difficult and constrained settings. There is a great need for infrastructure to build FOM, laboratories like Pharmacology and more space and equipment to train science teachers in the Faculty of Science.
Hon. Regimio Achia informed members that the STI Parliamentary Committee was established in 2016 to review and adjust STI in the country; monitor and evaluate what is happening in the country and report to parliament every six months; monitor the use of funds given and guide on science. “MUST is doing great in developing innovations, the level of expertise, skill and attention given to the different products is amazing” Hon. Achia said.
The innovation landscape at MUST was presented by Dr. Medard Twinamatsiko the Director of the Centre of Innovations and Technology Transfer (CITT). He noted that the innovation ecosystem at MUST is very strong and multidisciplinary. He noted that through the initial funding of UGX 1,000,000,000, MUST has generated tangible products, high-tech prototypes and spin-offs that are now putting MUST at both national and global levels.
He said the only challenge remains limited funding which affects the effective commercialisation of products. He noted that MUST innovation hubs such as PHARMBIOTRAC, CAMTech, Software Incubation Clinic, Business Incubation Clinics, and Pharmaceutical Society among others are doing well to make MUST shine. He requested that funds be increased by at least 20 billion Uganda shillings. He noted plans for establishing a Cottage industry, MUST holdings company and a stronger innovation ecosystem.
Assoc. Prof. Patrick Ogwang gave a detailed account of how COVIDEX was developed. He noted that with the team of MUST researchers, when they realised that the inflammatory effects are what killed more patients of COVID-19 than the virus itself, they determined to find the solutions and this led to the COVIDEX formula. Other presentations were from Assoc. Prof. Joel Bazira is researching antimicrobial resistance supported by funds from PRESIDE.
Currently, across the globe, there is a challenge where most medicines no longer work and people die of resistance to infections. He noted that according to UN estimates if no change is done by the year 2050, 10 million people will be dying due to resistance to drugs. The research and innovation team led by Assoc. Prof. Bazira is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) – machine learning to study molecules by microbes and PCR kits to diagnose drug-resistant diseases.
A herbal pessary to fight candida has been developed other products so far are; fungal disease-fighting soaps, anti-fungal ointments, herbal sanitisers and hand gels that do not use alcohol and wound-fighting gels. The team is still undertaking more research that will inform action against antimicrobial resistance.
Prof. Kabakyenga informed members of the social innovation of digital story-telling where information is well packaged to readily be reached by the intended stakeholders and is also vital in the dissemination of research findings. Hon. Achia appreciated this technique of digital story-telling in research and mentioned how it was used by the United Nations in the mediation of different parties in conflict resolution.
MUST has developed a fully-equipped digital story-telling studio. Assoc. Prof. Vincent Batwala the Director of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) gave a presentation on how multidisciplinary teams have utilised funds to conduct research, appreciating the Government of Uganda and requesting more 25 billion Uganda shillings to enable them to undertake more research.
Hon. Clare Mugumya appreciated MUST for sharing information with the community through their niche of community engagement. She noted that this is important since these are the users of the knowledge developed. Hon. Eng. Alex Niyonsaba appreciated the mastery of the developments at Kihumuro Campus making use of the master plan. Hon. Maj (Rtd) Dr Okullo J. Anthony noted the need to continue to document and give the wider public information on how to handle different diseases using easily accessible herbal means.
The VC appreciated the Honourable MPs for taking the time to visit MUST and requested them to be good ambassadors to help MUST get funds to meet the discussed needs. The Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Dr. Abime Florence Akiiki thanked MUST for being accountable and together with the other honourable members pledged to advocate for more funding for research and innovation.
The day ended with an exhibition showcasing different innovations by staff and students. These ranged from health and medical devices; Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; power and energy; agriculture and social and community innovations. Indeed, the momentum to advance in research and innovations at MUST is at the centre stage.
Succeed we must.
