By Bill Dan Arnold Borodi
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has called for urgent amendments to Uganda’s innovation and higher education frameworks, warning that existing policy limitations are constraining the development and commercialisation of innovations emerging from universities.
The call was made during the ongoing 16th Annual Higher Education Exhibition held at Gulu University under the theme “Harnessing Innovation in Higher Education for Accelerated Economic Transformation.”
In a statement by NCHE Chairperson Prof. Joy Constance Kwesiga, delivered by Hajji Dr. Ramantha Mugalu, the council raised concerns that outdated provisions in the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act continue to stifle innovation ecosystems within higher education institutions.
“Unless this is done in a timely manner, the industrialisation we aspire to achieve will remain out of reach,” the statement read.
The council urged State Minister for Higher Education, Hon. John Chrysostom Muyingo, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, to fast-track reforms that would create a more enabling environment for research and innovation.
NCHE stated that although universities are generating research and prototypes across sectors such as agriculture, health, ICT, and renewable energy, policy and legal gaps continue to limit their transition into commercially viable solutions.
The exhibition is part of NCHE’s regional approach to higher education engagement, with previous editions held in Mbarara and Mbale. The rotation is intended to expand access and strengthen regional participation.
Responding to the concerns, Muyingo acknowledged the policy constraints and assured stakeholders that the government is reviewing the framework governing higher education.
“Dear friends, the government is aware. There will be a need to coordinate actions by government, universities, industry, and partners,” he said.
He added that the NRM manifesto includes plans to invest more in scientific research and innovation, and to strengthen policy and intellectual property systems to protect innovations.
Muyingo further emphasised the need to strengthen linkages between academia and industry, noting that innovation remains central to Uganda’s transition into a knowledge-based economy.
The Innovation Hub Coordinator and Entrepreneurship Lecturer at the School of Business at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Aston Blessed Aryamanya, said the concerns raised by NCHE reflect the realities faced by many innovators within universities.
“I strongly resonate with the concerns raised by the leadership of the NCHE regarding the urgent need to amend the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions policy framework,” he said.
He noted that many university-based innovators continue to face structural and policy-related bottlenecks that hinder the transition from ideation to commercialisation. These include unclear intellectual property ownership frameworks, limited incentives for both students and staff, and rigid administrative systems that do not align with the dynamic nature of innovation ecosystems.
“This creates frustration and ultimately slows the contribution of universities to national development,” he added.
Despite these challenges, Aryamanya said UCU has established internal mechanisms to support innovation through its Directorate of Research, Partnerships and Innovation (DRPI) and the Innovation Hub. These include incubation and mentorship programmes to support startups, financial support through the Students Innovation Challenge Fund, and the development of intellectual property and knowledge management policies.
“The university also provides legal and technical support to innovators, including assistance with identifying, protecting, and registering intellectual property,” he said.
Aryamanya further said that UCU is aligning its academic programmes with entrepreneurship and experiential learning through competency-based education, which enables students to engage with industry and develop practical, market-relevant solutions.
