By Our Reporter
Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero, has commended St. Kizito High School, Namugongo, for its outstanding commitment to promoting science and innovation among students. The school was lauded for pioneering STEM-based initiatives aimed at nurturing a new generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.
Speaking at the school’s exhibition booth during the ongoing National Science Week 2025 at Kololo Independence Grounds, Dr. Musenero praised the institution for fostering a strong STEM culture and encouraging youth to embrace careers in science and technology.
“The Ugandan government recognizes the pivotal role of science education and innovation in propelling national development. I am impressed by St. Kizito High School’s efforts to equip students with the knowledge and skills vital for a science-driven economy. Their initiatives are cultivating critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving,” she said, pledging to personally visit the school in Namugongo.
This year’s National Science Week, running under the theme “Made in Uganda – Innovation to Market”, aims to highlight Uganda’s transition from research to commercialization. The event began on Monday and will conclude on Friday, June 20, 2025.
During the exhibition, St. Kizito High School showcased a range of innovative student-led projects. Ms. Florence Kikomeko, a teacher and project coordinator at the school, explained that students are engaging in practical solutions such as recycling food waste into nutritious animal feed, plastic recycling, briquette making, and food processing.
“We realized that food availability is seasonal. To address shortages, our students developed a method of preserving surplus food by drying it and converting it into powder form, which can be stored longer or even exported,” Kikomeko noted.
She added that their participation in National Science Week serves not only as a platform for showcasing student innovations but also as a call to action for other schools to embrace the new competence-based curriculum through practical science and innovation.
“This platform allows us to demonstrate what our learners are capable of. We hope that other institutions are inspired to follow suit and adopt similar approaches in line with the revised curriculum,” she added.
One of the student exhibitors, Senior Two student Adasa Mugisha Irombona, expressed pride in the skills they’ve acquired, particularly in food waste management and sustainability practices.
“As young scientists, we’re here to show that nothing is waste. Everything can be recycled and reused. We want to be job creators, not job seekers,” he said.
Earlier in the week, Dr. Musenero and Col. Edith Nakalema, Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), jointly called on Ugandans to embrace and support local innovations as a driver of socio-economic transformation.
Dr. Musenero further urged authorities, including SHIPU, to provide technical assistance and intellectual property protection to young scientists, emphasizing that innovators are valuable contributors to Uganda’s economic growth.
Col. Nakalema echoed these sentiments, noting that Uganda’s journey to achieving middle-income status hinges on its ability to commercialize scientific research. She also extended gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his continued support for the science and innovation agenda.
St. Kizito High School Namugongo is no stranger to global recognition. In 2024, the school was named a Zayed Sustainability Prize finalist, a prestigious acknowledgment announced by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. The awards ceremony was graced by President Museveni himself, further cementing the school’s rising profile on the global innovation map.