“Science Must Solve Real Problems”: Minister Asiimwe Tasks Makerere Innovators

What the report says

SoftPower News reported that Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Eng. Jonard Asiimwe, urged innovators at Makerere to focus on science that produces practical economic results rather than research aimed only at academic publication. The remarks were reported from Kampala and, according to the available snippet, were made during the second and final day of an engagement covered by the outlet.

Asiimwe’s message was that research should be translated into commercially useful products, job creation and wider economic transformation. SoftPower said he linked that shift to Uganda’s ambition of building a US$500 billion economy, framing science and innovation as tools for solving real-world problems and supporting national development.

The supplied article text is limited, so details such as the specific Makerere unit involved, the innovations showcased, attendees, funding commitments or follow-up decisions are not available from the provided evidence. The report nevertheless points to a familiar policy challenge for universities and research institutions: how to move promising ideas from laboratories and academic papers into products, services or enterprises that can attract investment and serve communities.

By context, Makerere University is one of Uganda’s major research institutions, and government messaging around science, technology and innovation has increasingly emphasized industrialization, entrepreneurship and skills development. SoftPower’s report places Asiimwe’s comments within that broader push, highlighting the expectation that public research should contribute more visibly to employment, productivity and Uganda’s long-term growth plans.