Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki Calls for Science-Driven Value Addition at 15th Mineral Wealth Conference and Expo
Says every US$100 in mineral revenue can be transformed into US$400 through technology and innovation
Munyonyo, Kampala — The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, this morning joined stakeholders in the mining and energy sectors at Speke Resort Munyonyo for the 15th Mineral Wealth Conference and Expo.
In his address, the Minister emphasised the role of science, technology and innovation (STI) in enabling the minerals and energy sectors to adopt the right technologies, maximise value addition, and transform every US$100 in revenue into US$400.
He appreciated H.E. Tophas Kaahwa, Uganda’s Ambassador to Japan, who attended the session, and encouraged her to strengthen partnerships with the Government of Japan in minerals, energy, science, technology and innovation.
Hon. Akiiki noted that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) is central to—and part of—the ATMs, while STI provides the technological and innovation capabilities needed to accelerate their growth and serves as the driver of the ATMs.
The Minister also commended Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, former Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, for spearheading policy and legal frameworks that have strengthened MEMD and made it one of the most organised ministries. He noted that STI is pursuing a similar approach to institutional development.
“I am a mathematician who believes in formulas, not guesswork. We must create an environment in which, right from the input stage, we can anticipate the outcomes at the output stage,” the Minister emphasised.
He thanked the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum—also referred to as the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals—for organising the 15th edition of the conference, which brought together industry players to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore opportunities to advance Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy. Participants, he added, shared ideas, agreed and disagreed, as they look forward to implementing the strategy.
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