The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has officially launched the 40th Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) at Soroti University (SUN-TISC), highlighting efforts to expand access to innovation support and promote artificial intelligence and student-led initiatives across the country.
The launch brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from Makerere University Innovation and Incubation Centre and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthening Uganda’s innovation ecosystem.
The event featured a showcase of student-led projects leveraging artificial intelligence to address real-world challenges.
Highlights included an AI-powered Ugandan Court Speech Transcription System designed to produce real-time, searchable court records while reducing manual workloads; a Hybrid AI Timetable Generator that optimizes scheduling and resource allocation; and a mobile commerce platform integrating e-payments with product traceability through QR codes.
Other innovations included the Smart Kara Portable Electricity Access system, which enables remote electricity top-ups; an offline AI tutoring platform (ARAPAI) that supports personalized learning; a machine learning-based fruit sorting system aimed at improving agricultural efficiency; and a Smart IoT produce monitoring system designed to enhance storage and reduce spoilage.
Representing the Registrar General at the launch, the Commissioner for Finance and Administration, Ekaju Ambrose, emphasized the importance of moving beyond ideas to impact.
“TISCs are not just centres of learning; they are engines of transformation where innovation is supported, protected, and translated into real opportunities for our people,” he said.
The Soroti University TISC adds to a growing network established across institutions this year, as URSB continues to decentralise intellectual property services and bring them closer to innovators. These centres are designed to provide access to patent information, technical knowledge, and mentorship, enabling students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to refine and commercialise their ideas.
The SUN-TISC is expected to serve as a hub for creativity and problem-solving in Eastern Uganda, reinforcing the role of universities as spaces not only for learning but also for building solutions that matter.
