Uganda looks to new innovation centre in Kiruhura to enhance youth skills

President Museveni has commissioned the Technology Engineering and Innovation Centre in Kiruhura District, which the government says will help spur innovation.

The centre, located in Rwebitete, Sanga Town Council, was built with funding from the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) of China. It was established under the National Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation Skills Enhancement Project (NSTEI-SEP).

Speaking at the launch of the centre ahead of on the women’s day celebrations on Wednesday, 08 March 2023, President Museveni said his government is committing to promoting science and technology in the country and warned against reducing the science budget.

“I am not part of the plan of cutting 90% of the Ministry of Science budget, so nobody will cut that budget. We cannot leave what we should do and do what we should not do. We need to put more into science rather than less,” he said.

Mr Museveni planted a commemorative tree prior to laying the foundation stone at the National Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation Centre (NSTEIC) in Kiruhura district.

According to the Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation Dr Monica Musenero, the centre is intended to enhance innovation and design hubs.

“This centre (National Science and Technology Center) differs from the vocational or university training programs. Here we call it the engineering development centre. It is equivalent to the Law Development Centre for lawyers. People graduate from universities and vocational institutions and come here to receive precision skills,” she explained.

She added that the country has been lacking skilled locals to manage key infrastructure developments in the country.

Dr Musenero said that the hub will bridge the gap of lack of precision engineering skills which are essential for manufacturing, designing, installation, and operation of infrastructure and industrial projects.

“This is an actual manufacturing facility, and the trainees train on the job. This became necessary when we discovered that our engineers take an average of four years to be allowed to touch the real equipment,” she said.

She added that the project will expose the trainees and enable them to execute huge contracts.

“This (National Science and Technology Centre) will be a productive unit, and if we run it well, it shouldn’t be a heavy cost to the government. It should be able to run itself within two to three years,” Dr Musenero said.

The centre will retool and up-skill over 1,500 Ugandans every year of which Dr Musenero said 30% of each cohort will be preserved for the women trainees.  The trainees shall do job training to develop working confidence.

Rwebitete centre will be focusing on seven engineering technology areas that include Civil engineering, construction, automotive technology, industrial/mechanical, electronic and electoral and agriculture mechanization.