Uganda’s development aspirations require that its national Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) plans and programmes make an effective contribution to its social and economic development. Strengthening national innovation performance is required to improve the competitiveness of Ugandan firms and industries competing in the global economy.
Trade plays a major role in the economic transformation of an economy. Uganda’s trade has been growing, especially to the regional markets such as EAC and COMESA. Under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Least Developed countries including Uganda are expected to double the share of exports in the global market by 2020 as emphasized by SDG: 17.
Culture concerns itself with socially transmitted behavior patterns, habits, knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, institutions and all other products of human work and thought. It is a strong pillar of every human society, transmitted from one generation to another. It influences people’s views, values, humor, hopes, loyalties, norms and fears.
Academia is the environment or community concerned with the pursuit of research, education, and scholarship. For economic growth, collaboration between academia and industry is key for successful business incubation. Difficulty in customizing university/industry links can bring a shift to shift-term problem solving rather than long-term support for major projects entailing significant innovation and Technology transfer.
The Parliament of Uganda derives its mandate and functions from the 1995 Constitution, the Laws of Uganda and its own Rules of Procedure. The Constitution contains articles which provide for the establishment, composition and functions of the Parliament of Uganda and empowers Parliament "to make laws on any matter for the peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda", and "to protect the Constitution and promote democratic governance in Uganda".
Media is one of the means or channels of general communication, information, or entertainment in the economy. For economy to grow, it requires the enabling environment for businesses and investments to flourish. The media can provide atmosphere for healthy trade; foster business climate of transparency and accountability; and ensure that accurate financial information is available to potential investors. Global and foreign media report on international economic issues, currency markets and international trade.
Civil society organisations of varied forms have been pivotal to Uganda’s development trajectory, particularly as far as institutional reforms are concerned. By leveraging the coordinated efforts of people, a strong and vibrant civil society plays an important role in economic development, poverty reduction and the promotion of pluralism.
The Government of Uganda has for long recognized the significance of the private sector in achieving sustainable socio-economic development. Uganda’s economic development policy envisages an inclusive private sector-led and export-oriented economy. To that end, Government designed and implemented several initiatives such as the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA), the Medium Term Competitiveness Strategy – MTCS (2000-2005) and the Competitiveness and Investment Climate Strategy (CICS) I (2005/6-2009/10) and II (2011-2015/16), National Development Plans (NDP I, II &III).
The Government of the Republic of Uganda, in conformity with the principles of democratic governance, exercises its powers through the three (3) arms of Government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. The three organs derive their powers from the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which is the Supreme Law of the land.
Uganda’s international community includes various development partners like UN agencies and private funding agencies or organisations. These are either multilateral or bilateral, and has played an important role in supporting national development strategies.
