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Scientific Revival Day in Africa

ATPS Uganda Marks the Scientific Revival Day of Africa

The ATPS Uganda Chapter partnered with Makerere University, the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), the Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS) and the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO to commemorate the Scientific Revival Day on 14 December, 2006 at the Grand Imperial Kampala Hotel, Uganda.

The day was marked in tandem with the UNESCO World Science Day for Peace and Development and aimed to increase stakeholders' awareness of the role of science, technology and innovation in national development. There were interesting exhibitions on display including science and technology innovations on traditional medicines, healthcare products and different ICT innovations as part of day's activities. The day also offered an opportunity to disseminate the report on the Finnish Study Tour. Eng Joseph Mutambi, who was part of the Ugandan team that visited Finnish Science parks, presented the report on the Finland Study Tour explaining how lessons from Finland can be incorporated into Uganda's Industrial Park Development Programme.

The day marked under the theme Science and Technology Innovations for Development attracted guests from the Uganda Private Sector Foundation, science and technology producers and users, researchers, academia, policy makers, staff from the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and participants in the innovations systems and clusters project.

Other key dignitaries at the meeting included the Hon minister for ICT in Uganda, Dr Ham Mulira, The presidential advisor on science and technology, Mr Ananias Tumukunde, the senior industrial officer in the Ministry of Tourism, Trade & Industry Eng Joshua Mutambi, and the Executive Secretary of the UNCST, Dr Peter Ndemere.

The Hon Minister for ICT in Uganda, Dr Ham Mulira, who was the chief guest lauded the chapter for organizing the event and requested for a much bigger commemoration of the scientific revival day in 2007. The Minister was enthused by the science park concept learnt during the ATPS Finnish study tour and was keen to lobby for its incorporation into Uganda's Industrial Park Development Programme.

In his opening remarks, the ATPS Uganda National Coordinator, Prof Joseph Obua, applauded the close collaboration between the chapter and other stakeholders in various science and technology programmes in Uganda. The presidential advisor on science and technology in Uganda, Mr Ananias Tumukunde, expressed his appreciation for ATPS and its role in promoting science and technology policies in Africa. Mr Tumukunde also pledged to brief the president on ATPS, its activities and the available collaboration opportunities in developing Science and industrial parks in Uganda.

The Scientific Revival Day was dedicated, during the 46th Ministerial Conference of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), to deliberate on the role of science and technology in addressing socio-economic challenges in Africa. The Ministerial Council made a resolution requiring member states to mark the day with programmes befitting the event.

ATPS has been on the forefront in popularizing and marking this day since 2002 by bringing together stakeholders to discuss how science and technology can be re-deployed to improve Africa's development.