Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye , has been elected the chairperson of the African union (AU) Committee on Education ,Science and Technology ,Ugandaupdate.com, can reveal.
“After only three years since its establishment in 2016, the Ugandan Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has been recognized by its peers by electing Uganda to chair the Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology (STC-EST) of the African Union for the next two years,” according to a statement released in Kampala.
Dr. Tumwesigye , who is also Uganda’s Minister of Science Technology and Innovation was elected at the 3rd Session of the STC-EST held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting was attended by African Union (AU) member states (represented by Ministers and Technical Experts in Education, Science and Technology), Development Partners, and Partner Institutions.
The Chairperson of the Specialized Technical Committee Meeting on Education, Science and Technology (STC- EST) is elected by the 55 member countries form the five regions (Northern Africa, Southern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa and Central Africa). The 12 Countries in the East African region include Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Comoro, Madagascar, South Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda. Uganda will hold the Chair of the STC- EST till December 2021.
In it’s new role , as the Chair of the STC–EST, Uganda will among others be required to establish performance indicators and receive reports on the performance of national, regional and continental agencies and institutions in education, training, science, technology and innovation; review and endorse initiatives and proposals to promote the co-ordination and the strengthening of education, training, science, technology and innovation programmes and interventions in the region.
It will also monitor the implementation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024) and other African Union strategies, policy frameworks and plans of action in science, technology and innovation at national, regional, and continental level.
This is because ,the AU Agenda 2063 recognizes Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as multi-functional tools and as enablers for achieving continental development goals. The Agenda, further, emphasizes that Africa’s sustained growth, competitiveness and economic transformation requires sustained investment in new technologies and continuous innovation in areas such as agriculture, clean energy, education and health.
While briefing journalists in Kampala , Dr. Tumwesigye highlighted some of the achievements that have so far been registered by the young ministry which included the launch of the Kayoola EV Bus which has been built by Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC). The Minister said that as construction work continues at the Kiira Vehicles Plant at the Jinja Industrial and Business park , Kiira Motors shall continue to build electric and combustion engine buses at the UPDF’s National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Luwero Industries at Nakasongola.
“When we complete the Kiira Vehicles facility Uganda will be able to manufacture vehicles for the local, regional, African and Global market. We are also finalizing the Automotive Industry Polic,” he stated .
The Minister further stated that the Ministry was also implementing the National Science Technology and Engineering Skills Enhancement Project (NSTEI) under the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology to provide incubation facilities for Ugandan scientists for enhancing STEI skills among young technicians and engineers; retooling unemployed graduates and supporting them to establish Start-UP businesses to undertake infrastructural development of the country and local manufacturing of products for import-substitution and export diversification.
Under this project, he noted , a Pilot Technology and Business Incubation Centre (TIBIC) is being built in Namanve and the National Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation (STEI) Centre is being established in Sanga.
