Over 500 scholars, policymakers, and innovators from across Africa have gathered in Kampala for the 5th African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Biennial Conference, taking place from October 29 to 31, 2025.
The conference, themed "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Africa’s Transformation," explores how emerging technologies, particularly AI, can be leveraged to address Africa’s key challenges in health, agriculture, education, and industrial development. ARUA, a consortium of over 20 leading universities across Africa, was established to strengthen the continent’s research capacity and graduate training.
Serving as a key platform for dialogue among academia, government, and industry, the biennial conference focuses on turning research into actionable solutions for Africa’s socio-economic progress. During the opening ceremony, Dr. Monica Musenero, Uganda's Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, urged African researchers to drive the continent into the digital age with resilience and purpose.
"Universities are designed to tackle societal problems. Africa missed the previous industrial revolutions, and now it is our time. We will be judged by whether we seize this opportunity - we cannot blame the past," she remarked.
Musenero stressed that innovation must be in line with Africa’s broader transformation agenda, urging researchers to "pursue what is challenging" and turn science into enterprise. She highlighted Uganda’s ongoing efforts in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research as part of its national innovation strategy.
She also introduced Uganda’s Pathogen Economy initiative, a bold strategy to utilize the country's rich biological resources for economic development, particularly in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and biosciences.
"Uganda is intentionally building an economy centered on pathogens," Musenero said. "This is not just about managing diseases — it's about creating value, building industries, and positioning Uganda as a leader in biosciences."
Uganda is developing a Biosciences Park to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial production and has established one of Africa's most advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing campuses. The park is designed to transform scientific knowledge into market-ready products with global competitiveness.
Musenero also pointed to homegrown innovations, including Uganda’s patented resistant starch technology for matoke (banana), which produces gluten-free flour and probiotic-rich foods — demonstrating how research can enhance export potential and improve public health.
“We must build our scientific base with purpose,” she said. “Our research institutions and universities must become engines of innovation, connecting science directly to markets and livelihoods.”
ARUA Secretary-General Prof. John Owusu Gyapong echoed Musenero’s views, noting that AI presents a transformative path for Africa to address food security, healthcare, and social development challenges.
“Artificial intelligence is not just about technology,” he stated. “It’s about improving lives through data-driven solutions.”
Prof. Robert Wamala, chair of the conference’s organizing committee, called for "productive deliberations that bring Africa closer to self-reliant, research-led development."
As the conference progresses, participants are expected to discuss frameworks for integrating AI into public policy, education, and industrial strategies, as well as explore collaborative models for the commercialization of research.
With Uganda hosting this pivotal event, the conference underscores Africa’s commitment to positioning itself at the forefront of global technological advancements while ensuring that innovation aligns with the continent’s development goals.