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| UCC Executive Director Godfrey Mutabazi |
Kampala — increased
investment in university-led innovation and research by the private sector can
lead to good human capital development, an expert has noted.
This
statement was made by Prof. Barnabus Nawangwe Principal College of Engineering,
Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) Makerere University during the second annual
national communications conference held in Kampala last week.
The
conference organized by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and CEDAT was
aimed at exploring the importance of Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) in fostering national development.
Nawangwe
said that Uganda is continuously importing ICTs yet the same applications can
be developed by Ugandans once properly funded. "The government alone
cannot fully fund such programs in higher institutions of learning since
government money is not reliable. With the private sector participation in
funding research, the students will be able to come up with various
innovations", he said.
He therefore
advocated for setting up centers of excellence at various institutions rather
than focusing on training people in certificates, diplomas and basic degrees
which instance cannot make graduates innovators but job seekers competing for
the few available jobs.
UCC's
Godfrey Mutabazi argued Ugandans not to entirely depend on foreign researches
and innovations since these may not be appropriate for the development of a low
developing country like Uganda since some of these technologies are made to be
used by developed countries.
He therefore
encouraged the people to strive and make own applications that are suitable for
the country.
East African
Business Week Uganda