Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has challenged Uganda’s researchers to present Parliament with evidence of gaps between scientific research and policymaking, pledging that the House will investigate the causes, establish responsibility and pursue accountability.
“We would want to be petitioned and shown where the disconnect is, so that we can address it,” Oboth said.
He made the call on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Kyambogo University, where he was the keynote speaker at the Science Meets Parliament dialogue organised by the AgriFoSe2030 Uganda Hub.
The dialogue was held under the theme, ‘Strengthening the Interface between Science, Policy and Practice for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in Uganda’.
Oboth observed that Uganda does not lack policies, expertise or research institutions but faces challenges in connecting research findings to policymaking, resource allocation and implementation.
“We have many think tanks. Perhaps it is time to develop action tanks,” he said, urging scientists to translate their research findings into practical and actionable policy proposals rather than leaving them as academic conclusions.
The Speaker pledged Parliament’s support in addressing the gaps through its parliamentary committees and oversight, budgetary and legislative powers, which he said could be used to investigate, prevent and resolve bottlenecks affecting the uptake of scientific research.
Kyambogo University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka said the institution introduced an internal research grant scheme around 2018, initially committing Shs1 billion from its internally generated revenue. He added that the Government had provided an additional Shs3 billion this year to support research.
Katunguka, however, raised concerns over inadequate staffing in public universities, noting that they operate at only 34 to 35 per cent of their required staffing levels.
He said Kyambogo University also struggles to retain engineers with PhDs because the private sector offers more competitive remuneration.
The Vice-Chancellor proposed the establishment of a parliamentary science-policy dialogue platform and a Centre of Excellence for Science Translation at Kyambogo University to strengthen the link between research, policymaking and practical application.
Meanwhile, Prof. Elisabeth Rajala, Programme Director of AgriFoSe2030, said the programme, led by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), is marking 10 years of promoting the use of scientific knowledge in sustainable development.
She said the programme operates through three regional hubs in Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe, with the Uganda hub co-managed by Kyambogo and Gulu universities.
“Too often, knowledge remains in scientific publications rather than reaching policymakers, farmers and communities,” Rajala said.
She emphasised that scientific research can only deliver meaningful impact when findings are effectively communicated, understood and translated into practical action.
“It is when knowledge is shared, understood and put into practice that it makes a difference,” she said.
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