Uganda’s newly appointed Minister in charge of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Eng. Jonard Asiimwe, joined outgoing STI Minister Dr. Monica Musenero during the Biomedical Innovations Accelerator (BIOMIC) webinar, in one of Dr. Musenero’s final public engagements before transitioning to her new role as Minister of Energy and Mineral Development.
The webinar brought together government officials, researchers, academic leaders, innovators, and industry experts to discuss strategies for translating biomedical research into scalable healthcare solutions and strengthening Uganda’s growing innovation ecosystem.
In her keynote address, Dr. Musenero emphasized Uganda’s vision of building a “pathogen economy,” aimed at transforming the country from a consumer into a producer of health products and biomedical technologies.
She highlighted the critical role of science, technology, and innovation in driving Uganda’s long-term economic transformation agenda and supporting the country’s ambition of becoming a multi-billion-dollar economy by 2040.
Eng. Jonard Asiimwe, who recently assumed leadership of the STI docket, underscored the importance of teamwork and collaboration in advancing innovation.
“Egoistic thinking cannot push innovation,” Asiimwe said, calling on institutions and leaders to create space for researchers, innovators, and young scientists to think creatively and work collectively in advancing Uganda’s science and technology agenda.
He commended the progress made under the STI Secretariat in promoting local innovation and pledged continued support for initiatives that translate research into impactful products, industries, and employment opportunities for Ugandans.
Professor Bruce Kirenga explained that the BIOMIC Accelerator Program was established to bridge the gap between biomedical research and commercialization.
He noted that although Uganda possesses strong scientific talent and promising research outputs, many innovations fail to reach the market due to excessive regulation, weak manufacturing ecosystems, and limited entrepreneurship skills among researchers.
According to Prof. Kirenga, the program seeks to create an enabling ecosystem that supports innovators from concept development to commercialization while strengthening Uganda’s role within the growing pathogen economy.
Dr. Winters Muttamba, Chief Executive Officer of the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Epidemics Research, provided an overview of how the BIOMIC Accelerator Program will operate.
He explained that innovators enrolled in the program will receive technical support, mentorship, access to laboratory infrastructure, commercialization guidance, and linkages to funding opportunities.
Dr. Muttamba noted that many innovators struggle with regulatory pathways and business development, despite these being essential for transforming scientific discoveries into scalable health products and enterprises.
Speakers described the BIOMIC Accelerator as a critical intervention in addressing persistent barriers within Uganda’s biomedical innovation ecosystem.
They observed that many innovations fail to progress beyond the laboratory stage due to limited manufacturing capacity, insufficient commercialization support, and regulatory complexities.
Through the program, innovators will receive structured support aimed at accelerating the development of locally manufactured health technologies and biomedical products.
Professor Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, Vice Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, emphasized the need for universities and academic institutions to align research with societal and market demands.
She said institutions of higher learning must evolve beyond traditional teaching and publishing roles to actively support innovation, product development, and entrepreneurship.
Prof. Byakika-Kibwika also called for stronger multidisciplinary collaboration and institutional systems that reward researchers for translating scientific work into practical healthcare solutions.
Other panelists, including Professor John Daudi Kabasa and Dr. Ken Simiyu, stressed the importance of stronger partnerships between academia, government, and industry in creating an enabling environment for biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship in Uganda.
The session also reflected on Uganda’s progress in advancing local vaccine production, establishing clinical trial platforms, and strengthening industrial innovation ecosystems under the STI Secretariat.
Researchers, innovators, startups, and institutions interested in participating in the BIOMIC Accelerator Program have been encouraged to register and engage with the initiative in order to access mentorship, technical support, and commercialization opportunities aimed at scaling biomedical innovations in Uganda.
