Innovation fund to help with poverty alleviation

By Daudi Zirimala

The government of Uganda has come up with an Innovation Fund Frame work intended to promote innovators work by identifying those scientists who come up with innovations that help alleviate poverty.

This was revealed by the commissioner in the ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations Willy Ofwono Osinde saying the Innovation Fund framework was passed by parliament and through this fund the government will be able to support innovations in the country.

Speaking during the Academia Meet industry conference, Ofwono through this fund the ministry of science will be able to identify who qualifies for this fund most especially those innovators that come up with innovation that can generate household incomes.

The conference is intended to bridge the gap between the labor market and the education sector in partnership with action aid Uganda, silver bullet among others to bring together various stakeholders including policy makers, students, young innovators, employers and scholars to foster a discussion on career and opportunities in science, technology, industry and innovation fields under the them harnessing engineering, science and innovation for Uganda’s economic growth.

Speaking at the official opening, Didas Muhumuza,Extractives coordinator action aid Uganda said that there is visible misalignment between education sector and potential employers on the skill set and workforce requirements.

"Through collaborative efforts such as these, there can be full awareness of the skills the industry needs to achieve its goals to enable targeted actions such as expanding the skills base and inform employee development and hiring program," said Muhumuza.

"In order for Uganda to fast track socioeconomic development, there is need for expansion of engineering capacity, we want to ensure that the workforce is suitably prepared for the current and future needs of the industry and the country,"said Maryanne Karamagi Executive director of Silver Bullet, the brain behind the Academia meet industry Convention 2019.

According to Vision 2040, Uganda intends to re-orient itself to make innovation the main driver of economic growth and the key pillar of competitiveness in trade and this necessitates drastic change of approach to education sector with full support from government and the private sector so that the linkage between Science, Technology and Innovation and economic development is strengthened.