The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has today launched its 39th Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) at St. Joseph’s College Ombaci, marking a significant milestone in advancing innovation and intellectual property (IP) awareness among young people in Uganda.
Founded in the 1940s as a technical school, the institution has grown into a hub for nurturing practical skills, research, and innovation. Its strong innovation culture is demonstrated by its performance in national science and innovation competitions, as well as student-led solutions such as automatic fire detectors and renewable energy technologies.
The newly established centre is the third secondary school-based TISC in Uganda, following similar initiatives at Comboni College Lira and Dr. Obote College Boroboro. This expansion reflects URSB’s commitment to fostering innovation at an early stage through its IP in Schools initiative.
The centre was officially commissioned by the Resident City Commissioner of Arua, Betty Otekat Akello, who praised URSB for extending innovation support services to schools.
“This initiative is timely and transformative. By equipping students with knowledge on innovation and intellectual property, we are preparing a generation that can create solutions, protect their ideas, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
URSB was represented by the Assistant Commissioner for Patents and Industrial Designs, James Tonny Lubwama, who highlighted the importance of integrating intellectual property into education.
“The establishment of this TISC is a strategic step towards empowering young innovators with access to information, tools, and guidance needed to transform ideas into protected and commercially viable innovations. We are taking intellectual property closer to where innovation begins—our schools,” he noted.
Speaking on behalf of the school, Headmaster Charles Ondoga welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to innovation and research.
“St. Joseph’s College Ombaci has a long tradition of nurturing practical skills and innovation. This centre will greatly enhance our students’ ability to research, create, and protect their ideas, positioning them for future success,” he said.
Technology and Innovation Support Centres provide access to high-quality technical information, intellectual property resources, and innovation support services. They play a critical role in helping students, researchers, and innovators develop, protect, and commercialise their ideas.
Through the continued rollout of TISCs across the country, URSB is strengthening Uganda’s innovation ecosystem and contributing to the development of a knowledge-based economy driven by creativity, research, and intellectual property protection.
This initiative also complements the Bureau’s IP in Schools programme, which aims to enhance young learners’ understanding of intellectual property and support the creation of groundbreaking innovations.
