The Executive Secretary of Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) Professor Adipala Ekwamu visited Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) to oversee the progress of the collaboration, the University has with RUFORUM.
During his visit, Prof. Adipala met the University leaders that included: Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Tushaboomwe-Kazoba, Faculty Deans, Directors and the team from PHAMBIOTRAC.
Prof. Kazooba thanked Prof. Adipala for choosing MUST. He added that the staff and students are encouraged to carry out research and innovation to address critical challenges in our community. Prof. Kazooba noted that Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer has supported innovations done by both students and staff from prototype to a commercial product and some have been recognized at National Regional and International level.
This was followed by a tour to teaching and research facilities in the University. During the tour Prof. Adipala inspected the PHARMBIOTRAC museum for herbal products, laboratories and production units, the Botanical Garden, animal research facility and pharmaceutical departments. Students and some scientists exhibited their herbal products made at the university which included; beard balm a remedy growth of beards, Blackjack tea a remedy for ulcers, Plectrantinc a drug for poultry and pigs, body cleansers, cough syrups and among others.
In his speech, Prof. Adipala applauded MUST for its innovations that serve the country in various capacities and promised to influence all RUFORUM leaders to inspect, learn and offer support to MUST where it is needed. He tipped MUST to collaborate and network as a way of succeeding in the 21st century and also to document business ideas through writing proposals so as to attract business investors for higher education as one way of reducing over dependence on Government funds only.
Prof. Adipala Invited MUST to participate in the upcoming RUFORUM meeting due to take place in December 2022 in Harare Zimbabwe. He further encouraged government ministries particularly for Science and Technology to work with universities such as MUST for better service delivery since universities have experts and innovators required to transform Uganda into a technology-based country.
RUFORUM is a network of 147 African Universities with the goal of enhancing universities’ abilities to foster innovations in response to smallholder farmers’ needs through the training of top-notch researchers, the production of impactful research and the upkeep of cooperative working relationships between researchers, farmers, national agricultural research institutions and governments.
Prof. Adipala is the Executive Director for Research and Education Agency (RAE), a Non-Profit Organization to promote education in rural areas of especially Uganda and to provide a platform for technology transfer to rural communities. He has mentored a group of bright, young scientists and development personnel to assist the organization’s outreach, research, and educational initiatives. Prof. Adipala is a firm supporter of the development of human capital in Africa as the engine of the continent’s progress, particularly in fostering rural transformation and fostering innovation to boost economic growth on the continent.
Prof. Adipala donated 10 copied of his books titled: unfinished Journey to the University library.