MUST HOSTS THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MINISTER AT THE 2ND ANNUAL AGRIC-BIOTECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION 2023.
On December 8, 2023, Mbarara University of Science and Technology was honored to host the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation,honorable Dr. Monica Musenero at the 2nd annual agricultural innovations exhibition day 2023, under the theme: Agro-biotechnology innovation, a key pathway towards achieving of Youth employability in Uganda. The exhibition which took place at the Pharmacology grounds and was graced by MUST students, staff, partners in development and the community.
The event was organised by the Faculty of Interdisciplinary studies, under the department of Environment and Livelihoods Support Systems headed by Dr. Ronald Twongyirwe.
The Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITT) was at the forefront of the event in terms of planning coordinating and Funding. According to the Director CITT Dr. Medard Twinamasiko, MUST agricultural innovations have supported farmers in southwestern Uganda in various ways such as increased productivity, increased quality of products , and implemention of better farming methods. He also pointed out that the students have learnt a lot from the community farmers in terms of hands on practices.
Headed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Nixon Kamukama, the Dean Faculty interdisciplinary Studies Dr. Rogers Bariyo, the President MUST agriculture students association Ms. Leticia Ahirirwe and other MUST staff, received the minister’s delegation to MUST.
This started with an in-house meeting with the University administration, faculty, student leaders and community representative leaders. In there, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Nixon Kamukama represented the University top Management. He welcomed the Minister and his delegation to MUST, thanked them for the time and support they have rendered to MUST. He pointed out that MUST, has put the best foot forward in relation to innovations in the different Faculties, promoted Science and technology and worked with the community to implement the relevant innovations.
Kamukama thanked the minister for the financial support to MUST. He said that the minister is supporting 5 projects at MUST where the staff and Faculty are benefiting from highly. He however requested that minister to increase the funding especially in research and innovation.
This was followed by a presentation of what the MUST Centre for innovation and Technology Transfer is all about. Dr. Medard Twinamasiko gave the insights of the centre, and showed how the different Faculties and units in the University entwine with the centre. He also shared the successful stories of CIIT notwithstanding the projects under Centre.
This was followed by Hon. Monica Musenero’s presentation on giving the the goal of STI as: to grow the contribution of knowledge-based goods and services to the national economy by increasing domestic productivity, import substitution and export of products resulting from Science, Technology and innovation. She added that Science-led economic development can be defined as an approach to development that prioritizes the use of scientific research and technological innovation, and thanked MUST administration for letting MUST play a pivotal role in advancing the science led socio-economic development agenda.
Dr. Musenero highlighted the role played by Universities in their vision to industrialize the country, “Universities have a concentration of brains which is largely academic, The Science, Technology and Innovation department was set up with the aim (among others) of helping universities turn this knowledge into innovation that will impact communities and help industrialize the country”.
She commended MUST for the student-community approach used in teaching and urged them to support government programmes in the community such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).
With the minister’s delegation was the bishop Emeritus of the National Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, Bishop Joshua Lwere, who is passionate and enthusiastic about innovations in agriculture. He gave remarks about innovation and the impact it has had in different communities. He quoted the book of genesis in the Bible and asked the exhibitors to exercise dominion by industrializing and creating more and use science and technology as a solution to the two major problems in the country of poverty and corruption.
A discussion of the two groups went on in relation to supporting MUST as well as working with the STI team.
The two teams later joined the exhibitors at the pharmacology grounds, toured the stalls, and also bought some items as a way of motivating the innovators.
At the end of the tours of the stalls, the congregation converged to listen to remarks of the different dignitaries
The Dean Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Dr. Rogers Bariyo welcomed the Minister and her delegation. He pointed out that Dr. Musenero is/was a spot on minister who uses elaborate and informative power point presentations to deliver her communication as opposed to just giving speeches, this was after Dr. Musenero did an impactful presentation about the vision of STI and the role of universities as being Centers for Regional Transformation and realizing the vision of seeing science in every village.
In his remarks, Dr. Medard Twinamasiko, the director MUST-CITT, thanked the minister for honoring the invitation despite her busy schedule and remarked that the meeting held demonstrated what MUST can do and also assured the minister that MUST is ready to walk the innovation journey with her and her team as they drive the agenda of INDUSTRIALIZE OR PERISH!.
He requested Ms. Leticia the president of the MUST Agriculture Students Association to give her remarks. Leticia thanked the minister and her delegation for the time they has taken off their busy schedule to be at MUST, she thanked and recognized the exhibitors for the time an patience to attend and carry their innovations to the grounds. On behalf of the student, she requested the minister for Agricultural Innovation Laboratory, one that will offer services to support agricultural activities innovations and tests, at MUST such as soil testing water testing, Pre-treatment of soil samples prior to testing seed testing, seed analysts, products create innovative solutions, offer agricultural practicals among others She pointed out that they travel to Makerere University for such activity but if the laboratory id give to MUST allot will change, said Leticia
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs Professor Nixon Kamukama represented the Vice Chancellor at the event and thanked the minister for always thinking about MUST.
Prof. Kamukama told the Minister that in a bid to reduce dependency, MUST started Mbarara University of Science and Technology Holdings ltd as a business arm of the University. He later invited the area member of Parliament Hon. Robert Rukaari to address the congregation.
He said that basing on Dr. Musenero’s biography , she is best suited for the job and that she has transformed the ministry in the two years she has spent in office. He said that him being the chairman of the entrepreneur’s league, he learnt that innovators have similarities with entrepreneurs, because they both take spend invaluable time and resources researching and both take risks for the development of the country. Hon Rukaari suggested that industries in the area should be represented at the next symposium so that students can directly learn from them.
Dr. Musenero thanked the exhibitors for stepping forward to showcase their innovations and added that there is rapid growth of science and that the main purpose of science is to create opportunities for jobs. The reason is that science creates industries and these industries create jobs for everyone, including non-scientists.
Dr. Musenero introduced her team. She commended them for the hard work dedication and commitment. “ this team works without supervision, I get to office and they are there, I go home and some times they are still in office, they don’t work on time they work to deliver. We call them the rangers.” As the minister I could not ask for more.
She introduced ranger Dr. Joshua Isiko as the new focal person for MUST.( the link between the ministry and MUST). The Minister urged the MUST administration to make good use of him.
“He will be in touch with you, disturb him, call him, update him, and share with him. As STI we are out to support ideas that later become solutions to the community.”Mr. Isiko is also the the focal person of Bishop Stuart University
Entertainment by the Batwa community with the oldest man being 106 years old