The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has launched a campaign to promote creativity and innovation among young people in three educational institutions. This initiative is part of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) K-12 Students' Innovation Mentorship Programme, which encourages learners to develop original ideas into practical solutions. The programme aims to prepare students for the final stage of the international innovation mentorship programme.
URSB officials visited Ndejje Senior Secondary School, Comboni College in Lira, and Dr. Obote College in Boroboro as part of the second phase of the programme. The delegation, headed by Mr. Kafunjo Twinomujuni, Assistant Commissioner for Traditional Knowledge at URSB, assessed the students' progress and offered additional support to improve their projects. The exercise allowed students to receive direct technical support from professionals who helped them understand how to make their projects better.
During the visits, learners presented their work, explained the thinking behind their ideas, and received recommendations to strengthen their innovations before the final competition. URSB is using the programme to encourage students to develop a culture of creativity and independent thinking. The initiative aims to help young people apply their knowledge to real-life situations and come up with ideas that can address problems affecting their communities.
Another key area of the mentorship is intellectual property education. Through the programme, students are learning why it is essential to protect their original inventions, creative works, and other innovations. This knowledge will help them understand their rights as creators and appreciate the importance of ensuring that their ideas are properly recognised and protected.
The involvement of WIPO in the initiative provides an opportunity to introduce students to intellectual property concepts while they are still young. URSB hopes that such exposure will inspire learners to take innovation seriously and consider how their talents can be developed into valuable products, services, and business opportunities in the future.
With the second phase of the programme taking place across the three schools, attention is now turning to the final competition, where students will have an opportunity to showcase their improved projects. Through continued mentorship, URSB aims to build confidence among young innovators and encourage a new generation of Ugandans capable of using creativity and original thinking to contribute to national development.
The programme has provided students with a platform to develop their innovative ideas and understand the importance of intellectual property protection. As the final competition approaches, students are expected to showcase their improved projects, demonstrating the impact of the mentorship programme on Uganda's young innovators.
Key points
- URSB promotes creativity and innovation among students through the WIPO K-12 Students' Innovation Mentorship Programme.
- The programme provides students with intellectual property education and mentorship to develop their innovative ideas.
- The final competition will showcase the improved projects of students who have benefited from the mentorship programme.
