ICT Minister Calls for Research-Driven Development at NCC 2026

KAMPALA, September 25, 2026 – The Minister of ICT and National Guidance has underscored the importance of research in policy development and implementation, cautioning against the tendency to treat evidence generation as a luxury or a discretionary, unfunded priority that can easily be sidelined when competing demands arise.

Speaking at the opening of the 10th National Conference on Communications (NCC 2026) at Makerere University on Thursday, Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba said research must remain the foundation of progress, informing both government policy and private-sector development initiatives.

“Before we can develop effective solutions, we must first understand the challenges we seek to address. Research provides the evidence we need to identify gaps, understand emerging trends, test ideas and make informed decisions,” she said.

“As Government, we formulate policies and implement programmes, but these interventions are most effective when they are grounded in evidence. Without research, we risk making decisions based on assumptions rather than facts and developing solutions without fully understanding the problems they are intended to solve.”

Referring to this year’s theme, ‘Accelerating Market-Driven Research and Innovation for Uganda’s Development,’ Hon. Lumumba said research should not end with the production of knowledge, but should translate into ideas, innovations and solutions that address real challenges and create value for both society and the economy.

“The question, therefore, is not simply whether we are conducting research, but whether our research is solving problems, creating opportunities and generating value. That is what makes this theme so important,” she said.

The conference was organised by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in partnership with Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).

Hon. Lumumba commended the resilience of the National Conference on Communications, noting that reaching its tenth edition was a significant achievement at a time when many promising initiatives fail to sustain momentum and realise their full potential.

She praised UCC for maintaining the conference over the years and Makerere University for its continued commitment to advancing research, innovation and knowledge-sharing within Uganda’s communications sector.

The Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to harnessing Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to drive economic transformation, improve public service delivery and enhance the quality of life of all Ugandans.

She noted that Science, Technology and Innovation is one of the four strategic pillars identified to drive Government’s ambitious ten-fold economic growth agenda, alongside Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism Development and Mineral-Based Industrialisation.

According to the Minister, the inclusion of Science, Technology and Innovation among these priority areas underscores the central role that research, technology and innovation must play in transforming Uganda’s economy.

She, however, cautioned that every technological advancement presents both opportunities and challenges. While digital technologies create unprecedented opportunities for communication, innovation, service delivery and economic growth, they can also be exploited for cybercrime, online harassment, hate speech, misinformation and child exploitation, among other forms of digital abuse.

Addressing these challenges, she said, requires informed policy, effective regulation, responsible innovation and continuous research, as well as stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry and civil society.

Addressing participants at the conference, UCC Executive Director, Hon. Nyombi Thembo, said the National Conference on Communications is built around three core objectives: advancing research and innovation, fostering dialogue, and building connections.

He explained that the conference provides a national platform for showcasing peer-reviewed research that addresses Uganda’s ICT challenges and identifies potential solutions; brings together policymakers, industry experts, academics and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and engage in constructive dialogue; and creates networking opportunities that connect emerging professionals and young innovators with experienced practitioners, researchers and leading training institutions.

The Executive Director thanked Makerere University, particularly CEDAT and the university leadership, for their continued support, collaboration and hospitality, noting that Makerere has hosted more editions of the conference than any other institution during its ten-year history.

He also highlighted the ICT Club Competition as one of this year’s key attractions, providing secondary school students with an opportunity to develop and showcase ICT-based solutions to real-world challenges.

Beyond the presentation of research papers, the conference featured exhibitions showcasing ICT innovations, technologies, products and services. The exhibitions provided a platform for innovators, researchers, students and industry players to demonstrate practical solutions and engage directly with conference participants.

Nyombi Thembo reaffirmed UCC’s commitment to its role as a facilitator and enabler of ICT development, saying that guided by its vision of an inclusive digital economy, the Commission would continue working with stakeholders to ensure that digital transformation creates meaningful opportunities for all Ugandans.

Earlier, Prof. Moses Musinguzi, Principal of CEDAT, welcomed participants on behalf of Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. He thanked UCC for its continued confidence in Makerere University and CEDAT and called for deeper collaboration among academia, government and industry.

Over the two-day conference, participants explored a wide range of issues, including research commercialisation, innovation ecosystems, shared digital infrastructure, policy and regulation, and the role of connectivity in unlocking economic opportunities. Discussions also examined how digital services are creating new markets in Uganda and the potential of artificial intelligence to drive social and economic development.

In addition to UCC and CEDAT, other partners supporting NCC 2026 included American Tower Corporation, NITA-Uganda, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Kilimanjaro Telecom, Roke Telecom and Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU), among others.