Makerere, Uganda – Makerere University is set to host its annual Research and Innovations Week from Tuesday, April 8th, to Thursday, April 10th, 2025.

This highly anticipated event will host President Yoweri Museveni as Chief Guest, and he will be accompanied by his wife, Hon Janet Kataha Museveni, who is also the Minister of Education and Sports.

The highly anticipated event will showcase groundbreaking research and innovations that are shaping Uganda’s development, powered by the transformative Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF).

With funding from the government, Mak-RIF has supported over 1,300 multidisciplinary projects, driving progress in key sectors and propelling Uganda toward its goal of achieving middle-income status.

These projects have been led by both graduate students and staff of Makerere University who are managed under MaK-RIF, which receives close to Shs. 30 billion annually from the central government.

Established as a strategic initiative, Mak-RIF funds research that generates credible evidence to inform national priorities, offering practical solutions to pressing challenges. Since its inception, the fund has had a remarkable impact, supporting projects across diverse fields like health, agriculture, technology, and governance.

By bridging the gap between academia and development, this initiative ensures research findings translate into actionable outcomes, fostering socio-economic transformation in Uganda.

A Grand Exhibition and High-Profile Guests

MaK-RIF sources say the Research and Innovations Week 2025 promises a dynamic and interactive experience, with exhibitions and plenary sessions taking place simultaneously.

Held at Makerere University’s Freedom Square and Main Administration Building, the event will feature science and arts-based projects addressing seven thematic areas of the Mak-RIF agenda, including agricultural transformation, ICT, health and well-being, and climate change, among others.

“The event will be graced by His Excellency, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as the Chief Guest, alongside Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports. President Museveni is scheduled to deliver a keynote address during the grand opening on April 8th, underscoring the importance of research and innovation in national development,” says Winnie Kyamulabi, the MaK-RIF Communications Officer.

Members of the public are invited to explore this vibrant exhibition, which celebrates the ingenuity and creativity of Uganda’s researchers and innovators.

“Please be part of the upcoming Makerere University Research and Innovations Week… at the Freedom Square and the Main Administration Building,” announced Winnie Kyamulabi in an email statement this morning.

Makerere University’s continued partnership with the government and other stakeholders through initiatives like Mak-RIF exemplifies its commitment to nurturing innovation and providing evidence-based solutions for a brighter future.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness cutting-edge ideas driving Uganda’s transformation.

About The Author

Arinaitwe Rugyendo

The Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ResearchFinds News and a Doctor of Philosophy in Journalism and Communication from Makerere University a credential that anchors his editorial vision in academic rigour and positions ResearchFinds News at the intersection of research and public interest journalism.

An accomplished journalist with over two decades of experience in Uganda’s media industry, Rugyendo has navigated every tier of the newsroom from cab reporter to Bureau Chief, Managing Editor, and Marketing and Digital Media Director at two of the country’s most consequential publications: the Daily Monitor and Red Pepper. At Red Pepper, he helped pioneer a participatory publishing model that transformed how Ugandan journalism related to its audience, a contribution that earned him international recognition and remains a reference point in African media scholarship.

Beyond the newsroom, Rugyendo has been recognised as a Desmond Tutu Fellow and a Crans Montana New Leader — distinctions that reflect his commitment not merely to journalism as a craft but to media as an instrument of social change. He serves as Chairman of Young Engineers Uganda, Uganda’s premier STEM and robotics education organisation, and as Chairman of the Uganda Premier League, demonstrating a leadership span that cuts across education, youth innovation, and sport.

With a PhD now in hand, a practitioner’s instinct sharpened over two decades, and a platform built on the conviction that research belongs in the public domain, Rugyendo is one of Uganda’s most distinctive voices at the intersection of scholarship, journalism, and nation-building.

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