By Bbale Nickson
A team of Members of the Parliament on Science, Technology and Innovation Committee led by Chair Alex Niyonsaba and Deputy Chair Dr. Asiimwe Florence Akiiki visited one of the Projects in Mbarara that benefitted from the Innovation Fund. The Project is entitled Cassava Starch Extraction Machine ( CASEM).
While this project is relevant to Uganda, especially in the Northern and Eastern Region, and received a funding of 89 Million there is still a lot to be done to achieve the intended goal.
The Project is located in the wrong area that does not produce Cassava and hence needs to be shifted either to the North or Eastern Part of Uganda
The use of the funds and what was accomplished did not meet members’ expectations. We have noted with concern that most of the money tends to finance workshops and salaries rather than coming up with tangible results.
According to the members of the committee prototype produced did not meet our expectations either.
There is a need for serious supervision of all innovation projects that receive funding from the Innovation Fund.
In a nutshell, the Cassava Starch Extraction Machine project is viable, and relevant but needs serious supervision.
