Uganda is set to launch its first satellite in outer space in a national space program by 2022 a revelation which has been confirmed by the ministry of science, technology and innovations (MoSTI) early this week. The over UGX 10 billion space project is expected to bring a lot of benefits to the economy. Its clear that the country is betting big in this emerging industry.
The space program is expected to map resources, strengthen national security and also support innovations. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye said
The space program has very many applications and will help the country in a number of ways including mapping our resource endowments like minerals, forestry and others. Improving our defense and security and creating jobs in various sectors.
The ministry is constructing an assembly plant in Jinja to enable Ugandans manufacture vehicles for the local, regional, African and the global market. In the short term, the plant will be used mainly by Kiira Motors but will share facilities with the new space project. The technology ministry is also finalizing on the automotive industry policy to guide the country in the future.
Uganda is following the led of her regional counterparts with funding in the space program but, Kenya is still ahead. In May 2018, Kenya launched it’s first home-made satellite to be utilized for weather forecasting, security mapping, wildlife monitoring and disaster management.
To facilitate the national space program with skilled resources, MoSTI recently collaborated with Universities in Russia and Japan to avail their training institutions for the development of Uganda’s space industry. The Ministry attracted several students who had backgrounds in Electrical, Computer, Telecommunications Engineering, and Physics & Mathematics in the National space program. All these were invited to apply for full scholarships to study aboard to the award if Master of Science in Space Engineering so as to return and work in Uganda’s space industry.
