President Yoweri Museveni has welcomed the idea of a Russian-Ugandan Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Scientific and Technological Cooperation which he says will boost industrial development through use of space technology to carry out research.
The meeting held at State House on May 6 was attended by Russian ambassador to Uganda Alexander Polyakou Dmitrievich, Head of Russian delegation Andrey Rashin, Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Elioda Tumwesigye and other Government officials.
The President said efforts should be put on research development in areas of mineral resources, environment, agriculture, land use, national parks as well as develop local human capital and monitoring utility networks.
He said space science should be extended to human resource capacity as well as prioritize human resource training.
He observed that ‘remote sensing’ of minerals beneath the earth, forests, wildlife and crops provide a complex of combined line of site like it has been in telecommunication systems.
The President suggested that space technology installation should also address the components of accuracy capabilities in detecting minerals.
Museveni observed that the development of space science is fast advancing and that the country needs this technology to help in other special areas like frontier border security monitoring.
The Head of Russian delegation Andrey Rashin said the investment has a comprehensive approach that requires a joint effort of working together with Uganda Government.
He assured President Museveni that putting in place the micro-satellite will not be costly as it will be integrated within the cost of establishing the space science and technology learning Centre/university.
Mr Rashin applauded the great bilateral cooperation between the two countries.