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).