The 7th Annual Higher Education Conference 2026 has yielded several key resolutions aimed at transforming Uganda’s higher education sector. The conference, which brought together stakeholders from public and private institutions, resolved to establish a National Research and Innovation Fund to ensure sustainable financing for research and innovation between 2026 and 2029.
A clear framework will be developed to guide access to the Fund, alongside increasing national investment in research and development from 0.4% to 1.0% within the next five years. The conference also emphasized the need to align Higher Education curricula with Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) frameworks, with immediate implementation supported by relevant standards, infrastructure, and capacity building.
Participants noted the importance of strengthening collaboration between universities, industry, and communities to ensure research and innovation remain responsive to national development needs. The conference also highlighted the need for a national framework for intellectual property management and commercialization, in partnership with the private sector.
Delegates further resolved to establish and operationalize Innovation Hubs within Higher Education Institutions to support incubation and scaling of innovations. All research and innovation efforts should align with Uganda Vision 2040, with a focus on industrialization and economic transformation.
The conference also emphasized the need to strengthen the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) pipeline for women, promoting inclusive participation and encouraging collective responsibility in advancing gender equity.
