Shaping Uganda’s STIRD Landscape: Key Actors, Functions, Influence and Partnerships

Abstract

Despite growing political and institutional efforts, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to lag in science, technology, innovation, and research for development (STIRD). Uganda presents a critical case for understanding how domestic actors shape national STIRD ecosystems under conditions of policy fragmentation, donor influence, and regional integration. This study employs a qualitative research design grounded in document analysis to map the key domestic actors involved in Uganda’s STIRD landscape. Guided by the National Innovation Systems (NIS) approach and the Triple Helix model, the research categorizes actors into five groups—government units, research institutions, think tanks, private sector actors, and regional/continental partners—and critically analyzes their mandates, influence, partnerships, and coordination dynamics. The findings reveal asymmetries in actor influence, coordination gaps across ministries and research institutions, and donor-driven research priorities that dilute domestic policy coherence. While central actors like UNCST, NARO, and MoSTI lead in shaping STI policy, peripheral actors such as CSOs and innovation hubs remain underleveraged. Regional bodies like SGCI and AAS offer technical support but are not yet fully integrated into national systems. The study underscores the need for improved coordination, domestic investment in R&D, and institutional mechanisms for knowledge translation. It contributes to the literature on national innovation systems in Africa and offers policy insights for strengthening Uganda’s science and innovation governance.