National Science Week 2026 launched to drive $500 billion economy ambition

Science Minister Monica Musenero Masanza has launched National Science Week 2026, saying science, technology and innovation will drive Uganda’s ambition to build a USD 500 billion economy. The launch was held on April 9, 2026 at Serena Hotel in Kampala ahead of the main celebrations set for April 30 to May 3, 2026 at Kololo Independence Grounds under the theme “STI Works: Powering Uganda to a USD 500 Billion Economy.”

Musenero said the early launch aims to allow mobilisation and preparation activities before the official opening. She explained that the lead-up will include a national hackathon, investor engagements, media outreach and meetings with innovators. She said innovators will submit solutions through the hackathon, while the ministry will organise investor dinners and other engagements to connect ideas to funding.

The minister said Uganda is now entering a results-focused phase, noting that investments in science and innovation over the past five years are already producing outcomes. She cited progress in mobility, manufacturing and the digital economy, including locally made products entering new markets and young developers building solutions to real-world problems. One example is the Kayoola electric bus, which recently completed a 13,000-kilometre journey from Kampala to Cape Town, demonstrating Uganda’s engineering capability and export potential.

Musenero also pointed to initiatives such as the Game Jam hackathon, where developers created interactive solutions, including tools addressing conservation challenges. She said the upcoming science week will focus on innovations that are already working and ready for market. The programme will feature a Made in Uganda experiential platform linking innovators to markets, alongside live demonstrations in artificial intelligence, biosciences, electronics, mobility and consumer products.

Investor roundtables, deal rooms, policy dialogues and global pitch sessions will also be held to connect innovators to capital and international markets. The event will further support vendor onboarding, packaging services and promotion of locally made products to help them compete globally.

STI Undersecretary Peter Ourien said placing the secretariat under the Office of the President highlights its national importance. He said science and innovation offer opportunities for job creation and economic growth, but called for stronger demand for locally made products and greater investor interest in innovation-driven enterprises. He noted that many investors still prioritise real estate instead of innovation.

Musenero described the last five years as a pathfinding phase that clarified how science contributes to economic growth. She said Uganda has moved from uncertainty about the value of research to a structured system linking ideas to markets. The next phase, she added, will focus on scaling innovation, strengthening industry and expanding Uganda’s role in the global knowledge economy.

She said the four-day event will demonstrate results, attract investment, build trust and position Ugandan innovators globally. Government invited the public, private sector and development partners to participate, describing the week as a turning point for Uganda’s development.