On November 26th, 2025, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) held a stakeholder consultation at Makerere University as part of the ongoing development of Uganda’s Defence Research and Development Policy. Hosted at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT), the meeting brought together defense officials, academics, and subject-matter experts to align national security priorities with advanced research and innovation.
Prof. Moses Musinguzi, Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), chaired the meeting on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. The engagement was convened to gather expert input in shaping Uganda’s Defense Research and Development Policy. According to MODVA, the consultation sought to strengthen partnerships between the ministry and Makerere University in advancing defense-related research. It also aimed to harness science, technology, and innovation to modernize Uganda’s defense capabilities, identify opportunities for training and knowledge exchange, and harmonize defense research initiatives with the country’s broader national security and development goals.
Prof. Moses Musinguzi, while welcoming the team to Makerere University, highlighted the key enablers for effective partnerships, which included the dedicated and predictable funding mechanism for defense-related research, clear institutional frameworks for long-term collaboration, and opportunities for staff and student involvement through research attachments, innovation challenges, and co-supervision.
Prof. Moses Musinguzi, affirmed Makerere University’s readiness to partner with the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) in building a modern, responsive, and innovative Defence Research and Development ecosystem. He noted that the university, and CEDAT specifically, remains committed to continuous engagement, technical support, and aligning academic expertise with national security priorities.
“As a university, we support an R&D policy that emphasizes leveraging national institutional capacities to develop defense systems, thereby reducing dependence on external providers,” Prof. Musinguzi emphasized.
Brig. Gen. Richard Rubongoya, who led the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) and UPDF delegation, explained that the visit to Makerere University was part of a strategic move in the development of the Defense Research and Development Policy. He noted that the benchmarking exercise was intended to provide insights into the challenges faced by universities and technical colleges in their operations.
“We are here as part of our strategic efforts to develop a Defense Research and Development Policy. The idea of benchmarking is to get enlightened about the challenges encountered in the operations of universities and technical colleges,” Brig. Gen. Rubongoya said.
He referred to quotes by His Excellency, the President of Uganda,
‘Africa must never lag again in science and technology because this was the original sin that led to the suffering of the African people. ’
‘Science, technology, research, and innovation are the primary drivers of societal change, economic development, and national security. ’
‘Our ancestors had wisdom, today’s world demands advanced technology, hence Africans must innovate and not just imitate’.
While explaining the defense R&D policy to the meeting, he said it referred to the systematic and strategic process of creating and improving technology capabilities and systems of the UPDF. It involves scientific research, technological innovation, and engineering efforts enhancing defense capabilities, thereby enhancing national security. He said the policy would help lay a framework to build the capabilities of the UPDF through the production of weapons that guarantee the territorial integrity of Uganda’s social and economic transformation, and strategic security of the region.
While highlighting the challenges we face regarding security of the nation, he said we over-depend on foreign technology, we have limited private sector participation, limited coordination of stakeholders, lack of R&D organizational structures and human resources, especially skilled scientists, inadequate funding, limited infrastructure for R&D, lack of equipment like the laboratories and factories, lack of a documented R&D policy, lack of commercialization of R &D products and lack of defined end user requirements.
Brig. Gen. Richard Rubongoya noted that the deliberations would play a critical role in enriching the draft Defense Research and Development Policy. He explained that the engagement provided an opportunity to learn about ongoing R&D activities by stakeholders and how these fit into the broader defense framework. The discussions, he added, were aimed at sharing knowledge, raising awareness, identifying roles for key stakeholders, and establishing human resources such as scientists and technicians. The team also explored the potential for dual-purpose products, the need for legal and institutional frameworks to support R&D, and the importance of building collaboration networks with stakeholders.
“These deliberations will help us enrich our draft policy, learn from the R&D activities being undertaken, and identify how they fit into the Defense R&D framework. They will also enable us to share knowledge, raise awareness, establish human resources, explore dual-purpose products, and strengthen collaboration networks with stakeholders,” Brig. Gen. Rubongoya said.
Various university units made presentations during the consultation, including the School Deans of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), the College of Natural Sciences, the College of Health Sciences, the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering, as well as the Makerere University Biomedical Research Centre. Their input was warmly welcomed by the MODVA/UPDF team, which emphasized the importance of academic contributions to the Defense Research and Development Policy to address existing and new security threats in areas like food, ICT and water.
Written by By Harriet Musinguzi, Principal Communication Officer, CEDAT
Posted by Isemaghendera Alex, IT Officer, CEDAT