President Museveni reiterated that science must be used for import substitution and observed that processed coffee fetches 15 times the value of coffee when it is sold in its raw form.

He congratulated the scientists for using well the funds that government gave out and assured the nation that government would provide funds both directly and through UDB at low interest rates.

During the ceremony, the overall winner of the Uganda science winner’s award who was recognized by the President was a nine year old Ann Tramy Mpagi, a pupil of MST Junior School of p4 along the Kampala –Entebbe road. She innovated an e-learning app for the education sector.

Later, the President toured an exhibition showing a wide range of innovations including the electric vehicles, efforts to develop Covid vaccines, anti- tick vaccines and silk textiles. It also showed the ventures by Universities such as Makerere, IUIU, Kyambogo and Mbarara University of Science and Technology. He also launched 100 science text-books that were published by Ugandans.

The Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Monica Musenero revealed that the winners of the Uganda science winners award above 18 years of age are to receive Ush 30 million and those below 18 are to receive Ush 10 million.

She said that the learning app provides learning materials at all levels.

The Executive Director of UNESCO in Uganda, Prof. Eriabu Lugujo said that Africa cannot develop without science. He saluted the President for prioritizing science teachers through improved remunerations.

The Principle of the College of Veterinary medicine of Makerere University Prof. David Kabasa revealed that knowledge developed was being shared with communities.