Students at Kabale University are struggling to transform their innovative ideas into practical products due to limited resources. Despite developing products such as anti-inflammatory capsules made from turmeric and booster capsules from garlic, they lack the necessary equipment, technical expertise and funding to test, refine and scale up their innovations. This was revealed during an outreach engagement between students, university management and the United States Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Uganda, Mikael (Mika) Cleverley.
The students highlighted the challenges they face in accessing equipment and technology for processing and quality assurance. According to Eve Bridget Apoya, a student in the Faculty of Science, they are forced to travel to laboratories outside Kabale to test their products, which is a costly and time-consuming process. Apoya called for partnerships that can provide students with the necessary resources to transform their innovations into practical products that can address community challenges.
The University Guild Speaker, Elia Nabasa, emphasised the need for opportunities for students to benchmark with institutions in the United States to strengthen their skills in leadership, academics and innovation. Nabasa also appealed for scholarships to support students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. He mentioned that the guild has established the KAB for KAB initiative, where students contribute towards tuition support for colleagues facing financial difficulties, but the programme is constrained by inadequate funding.
Kabale University Vice Chancellor Professor Jonny Mugisha said the institution faces challenges in identifying and accessing United States-based institutions interested in supporting its priority areas. He mentioned that the university sometimes struggles to present its concepts to potential partners and is constrained by limited strategic infrastructure and financial resources. Mugisha noted that stronger international partnerships could help the university access technical and financial support while expanding its academic and research networks.
Despite the challenges, Kabale University has benefited from partnerships involving United States universities and institutions. The university has received funding for projects such as the Site Selection to Protect Papyrus Endemic Biodiversity in Uganda project, which focuses on identifying sites for protecting biodiversity in papyrus wetlands. Other projects include Microsporidiosis among Children and Adults with Persistent Diarrhea, and Non-Falciparum Malaria and Diagnostic Gaps in Children Under Five in Southwestern Uganda.
Professor Mugisha said the university hopes to use the engagement with the United States Embassy to establish connections with more institutions and strengthen international partnerships. He expressed optimism that these partnerships can help address the challenges faced by students and enhance the university's academic and research capabilities.
Responding to the concerns, Cleverley said Ugandan universities should engage the United States Embassy in Kampala to identify institutions and opportunities for collaboration. He expressed the United States' interest in partnerships that expose students to new opportunities and strengthen university programmes in entrepreneurship, innovation, science, technology and leadership.
Key points
- Lack of funding, specialised equipment and testing facilities hampers student innovation at Kabale University.
- Students require partnerships that provide equipment, technical expertise and funding to transform their innovations into practical products.
- Stronger international partnerships can help the university access technical and financial support while expanding its academic and research networks.
