Uganda, Russia Sign Partnership to Cooperate in Science and Innovation

MOSCOW – The two governments of Uganda and Russia have entered a partnership that will facilitate development and realization of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation.

It follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed this week between Uganda’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The MoU was signed on Friday in Russia’s capital, Moscow, by Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Elioda Tumwesigye and Mihail Kotyukov, who is Russia’s Minister of Science and Higher Education.

A statement issued by the Ugandan Embassy in Moscow stated that; “The purpose of this Memorandum is to contribute to the development and realization of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation”.

Both Uganda and Russia will contribute to the development and realization of cooperation in technologies for exploration and development of mineral resources; ecology, research in the field of agriculture, biotechnology , chemistry and research.

The statement added that the two parties identified areas of cooperation and implementation should begin by July 2019.

Minister Elioda Tumwesigye arrived in Russia this week with a delegation from the Ministry and held numerous meetings with strategic partners in the field of science and innovation. The delegation also visited Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas which is the national research university.

The delegation met the Vice Rector for International Affairs, Alexander Makesimenko and had discussions on possible areas of cooperation including training, research and attracting oil and gas companies to Uganda.

A draft MoU was prepared by Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas for consideration by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Uganda.