Museveni Opens Makerere Innovation Week, Calls for Science-Led African Renaissance

President Yoweri Museveni officially opened Makerere University’s Research and Innovations Week with a powerful reminder of Africa's historical challenges and the critical role science and technology play in the continent’s future.

The President reflected on Africa's colonial past, stating that the continent was subjugated largely because it lagged behind in scientific and technological advancement.

He stressed that while the arts have their place, they thrive best when the basic needs of society—such as food, shelter, transportation, and security—are met. “The arts will be more appreciated when the foundation of the country is secure. The fundamentals of life (shelter, food, locomotion, defence) are the basic needs of society. The more a society is able to tame and harness nature for its own benefit, the more prosperous that society will become.”

After touring various exhibition stalls featuring innovations from students and researchers, Museveni expressed satisfaction with the progress being made and thanked the university for its commitment.

“I was happy to see flashes of this as I toured the exhibition stalls today. I would therefore like to thank the university administration for responding to the calls of our society. The money we are allocating for innovations and research is merely endozo (jaribu, a sip, a taste); we shall provide more in the future,” he added.

Makerere University’s Research and Innovations Week is a showcase of cutting-edge works in fields such as health, agriculture, technology and it will run until the 10th April 2024.