Government to hold second appropriate technologies expo

The Ministry of Water and Environment under its arm, the Appropriate Technology Centre (ATC), in charge of Research and Development, have partnered with Makerere University to hold the second Appropriate Technologies Expo.

This is aimed at showcasing a wide range of technologies that can be adopted to advance the country’s development agenda.

According to Engineer Christopher Tumusiime, the Commissioner of the Water Utility Regulation Department at the ministry, the National Development Plan, which is in its third edition, calls for harnessing factors of production through a knowledge-based economy of science, technology and innovation to improve lives of Ugandans?

Tumusiime, who was addressing journalists at Uganda Media Centre, noted that the Appropriate Technology Expo is well aligned with the government development programs and it’s in the interest of all different actors including researchers, policymakers, technical leaders, and all citizens.

“The government commits to invest in technology and innovation through developing the requisite infrastructure; building the human resource capacity and strengthening research and development capabilities. From the water and environment perspective, technology and innovation have always been at the forefront of sector innovations,” he noted.

Additionally, the commissioner explained that the establishment of the Appropriate Technology Centre was solely to undertake action research, promotion and dissemination of appropriate technologies and approaches for water, sanitation and the environment.

He added that the Centre carries out capacity building of sector actors that include water resources management, sanitation and environment professionals and technicians.

Regarding trees, Tumusiime highlighted that mankind has insensitively cut down trees because they need construction materials, firewood and charcoal and now they are grappling with the consequences of forest cover reduction.

“From 2001 to 2021 the country lost 967kha of tree cover (12%). On average we lost an estimated 3.9% of tree cover annually. Yet we all know that forest cover supports rain formation, and biodiversity, purifies the air we breathe and is a shield against climate change,” he added.

The second national Appropriate Technologies Expo will take place from 2nd to 4th February 2023 at Kololo Ceremonial ground.