Team Lead of Infrastructure Innovations, Okodi Samuel, highlighted the transformative role of technology and infrastructure in unlocking Uganda’s economic potential.
Speaking during Spotlight Uganda hosted by NBS Television on Monday, under the theme, “Innovating for Impact: Building Uganda's new economy through science, technology & innovation,” Okodi emphasised the strategic importance of precious metals in Uganda’s economy.
“One of the biggest movers in our economy is precious metals. We have that resource in the country, but the kind of infrastructure needed to process these metals is very expensive. If we developed our own infrastructure and brought the cost of technology down, we would see an increase in our precious metal export because we have the raw materials here,” he said.
Okodi underscored the mandate of his team to develop homegrown technology for mining, aiming to significantly reduce production costs and boost value addition within the country.
Highlighting Uganda’s diverse economic needs, Okodi also pointed to challenges in the cattle corridor, describing it as “mostly dry” and stressing the importance of building infrastructure that ensures sustainable management of these resources.
Okodi shared insights into his team’s approach to innovative solutions, which provides engineers with hands-on opportunities to explore advanced technologies and develop alternatives.
A notable achievement mentioned was the development of precision agriculture technology in partnership with Gulu University, designed to enhance productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Addressing the mining sector specifically, he raised a critical question for Uganda’s growth; “We need a lot of technology to add value to these minerals. Do we have the local technical skill in which we can invest?”