Uganda’s education system most especially Universities and/or higher education institutions (HEIs) have often covered the theory part of training programs comprehensibly; nevertheless, the hands-on (practical) component has not fully been integrated within the learning mechanisms within HEIs. This Project will address this anomaly by providing learning factories that will ensure the practical retooling of science & engineering professionals and production of real marketable products to enhance Uganda’s competitiveness.

The Uganda Vision 2040 stipulates that Government will set up science and technology parks, engineering centres, technology and business incubation centres that meet international standards. Consequently, in line with NDP II development objective 2, of increasing the stock and quality of strategic infrastructure to accelerate Uganda’s competitiveness, and in an effort to enhance the technological and skill base of the Ugandan graduate, craftsman, technician and engineer to participate in strategic national infrastructural projects and manufacturing industries, the Project will establish the:

a) National Science, Technology and Engineering Skills Enhancement Centre (NSTESEC) to enhance the technological and skill base of Ugandan graduates, craftsmen, technicians and engineers as well as instructors through the Flexible Factory Learning & Infrastructure Model covering the technology areas of construction engineering (including construction machinery technology & civil
engineering technology), automotive technology, agricultural mechanization, industrial technology, metallurgy (especially. precision welding), and electronic & electrical R&D.

b) Technology Innovation and Business Incubation Centre (TIBIC) that will act as a platform and Tool room for technology development via the Process Industry Learning Factory Model covering the technology areas of leather & textile processing as well as a modern foundry to enhance the contract manufacturing agenda and business competitiveness. This Centre will provide scientists and innovators, access to; common user facilities, state-of-the-art testing units, training centres with multiple disciplines, quality upgradation, technical/business assistance, specialised R&D facilities to technopreneurs/MSMEs in the country.

The TIBIC at Kampala Industrial Business Park (KIBP) will provide specialised technological support to scientists and innovators, and subsequently become the nucleus for setting up science parks and technology incubation centers (SPTICs) in the 4 regions of the country as enshrined in the NDP and Vision 2040. The Namanve Centre will also be used as the Renting Centre for the engineering machinery of the Project Overall, the Project will support the country’s drive toward competitiveness through:

• (a) access to advanced technologies and common user facilities and work spaces for scientists and innovators;
• (b) skilling manpower by offering opportunities for technical skills development at varying levels ranging from school dropouts to graduates, craftsmen, technicians and engineers; and
• (c) provision of technical and business advisory support to scientists, innovators and technopreneurs to commercialise their research and development results.

Correspondingly, in line with the STI sector outcomes, the project intends to provide adequate state-of-the-art STI infrastructure to generate and effectively apply STI based on the contemporary needs of society