Ugandan Scientist Dr Clet Wandui Masiga is the new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Research, Innovation and Development in the Inzu Ya Masaaba Kingdom. Dr Masiga’s name appeared among the key appointments in the Cabinet list released on Monday 29th January 2024
The Scinentist’s appointment is a win for the Bugisu Sub-region as his work will extend to cover six districts of Bulambuli, Sironko, Mbale, Namisindwa, Manafwa, and Bududa in Uganda.
It [the appointment] also covers Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties in Kenya. The entire Elgon region which also extends to Sebei, Tororo, Bugwere, Karamonja and Teso will also benefit from his position.
According to His Highness Umuguga (King) Jude Mike Mudoma, the decision to appoint Dr Clet Wandui Masiga is an excellent choice for the sub-region due to his expertise in the research and innovation sector.
About Dr Masiga
Masiga is a Ugandan Scientist and the Executive Director of Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI), an Entrepreneur in the Sericulture and Silk Industry.
Dr Masiga is a National Resistance Movement (NRM) cadre and has ever attempted to stand for Member of Parliament on the NRM ticket but being a globally celebrated scientist, withdrew to focus on science to fulfil the requirements well stipulated in the NRM Manifesto on page 184.
Education & Research Experience
Masiga has a BSc in Forestry (Makerere University, Kampala –Uganda); Master of Science (University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; and PhD in Genetics and Breeding/ Biotechnology at Sudan Academy of Sciences, Khartoum, Sudan.
While in the United Kingdom, he founded a company, Bioscience Technology Services Ltd whose focus was to invest in the commercialization of Science Technologies for the development of Tropical Regions.
Since 2000, he has worked in several countries managing and supervising various projects related to natural resources, environment, agriculture and rural development. These countries include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, D.R Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, India, United Kingdom, United States of America, Portugal, Netherlands, Syria, China, Mali and Burkina Faso.
Masiga is a well-published researcher and author. He has written and published five books. Has four registered patents/copyrights and over 36 peer-reviewed publications. He is well respected among his peers and USAID Feed the Future Project profiled him in 2014 in their article titled Biologist Connects International Researchers with African Smallholders as an Interlocutor in an effort to coordinate between the International Research Community, local African Research Institutions and individual smallholder communities.
Masiga works not only on the science and research aspects of this Feed the Future program, but also on the policy, legal and financial aspects. He is a uniquely dedicated, collaborative and visionary partner.
“He writes columns on biotechnology for local and regional news outlets; he contributes to DAD-net [an international animal genetics e-forum] on controversial topics; he tries to influence legal structures in Uganda and throughout Africa through the African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources; and he is engaged in our work and is continually ‘on.’ And he has a very ambitious program portfolio.”
He is the only African scientist on the International Goat Genome Consortium (IGGC) heading a group on cooperative genomics. This consortium goal of the IGGC is to increase the knowledge of the goat genome and use that knowledge to address important biological concerns for improved goat production around the world. In this Consortium, Masiga is interested in understanding the genetic diversity of goats and sheep to influence their utilization and conservation by African communities and governments. He is particularly keen on using research data to help influence African governments and communities to access and utilize next-generation technologies for farm development.
In his current position, Masiga also works as a director for Access and Utilization of Bioscience Innovations and Technologies.
What he brings to the Bamasaaba Community
His academic qualifications coupled with experience and skills make him the best choice for his appointment which will bring very specialized skills to the Position of Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Research, Innovation and Development.
In a telephone interview with Masiga, he says: he is grateful to Umuguga Jude Mike Mudoma who has given him an opportunity to assist him serve the region in the Capacity of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Research, Innovation and Development.
“I am happy that together with a team of 36 others, we have been entrusted with the challenge of assisting Umuguga in contributing to our region,” he stated.
Asked what will be his key role as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Research, Innovation and Development, Masiga said: “My first task is to assist Umuguga in implementing his agenda in North Bugisu as a deputy Prime Minister in Charge of North Bugisu. My second task is to establish connections to the places where innovations/ideas have been developed and the resources to acquire and introduce the to the region.”
He added; “We will need to ensure we tap government support in promoting agricultural innovation, supporting rural capacity building and the provision of pro-poor innovations for rural social development.”
Masiga further noted that he will look at establishing Factories/industries for rural areas such as those for Agriculture, forestry and associated production and processing industries; Mineral, oil and gas exploration, extraction, processing and distribution for the region; Textiles, leather and Fashion engineering; Urban construction and infrastructure planning and development.
Other sectors to focus on during his reign will include; Furniture and interior designs; Manufacturing of construction materials and processing machines; Manufacturing of Health, pharmaceuticals and medical engineering equipment and facilities; and innovations to promote tourism and support services; Mobile banking, finance and financial services; Information and communications technology; Sports and performing arts and sciences and supporting the processes for development of policies and bylaws to guide the implementation of Research and Innovation for development of the region.
“We have our oil in Bugisu and the region. We need to exploit it using the latest technologies and innovations. If we do not do it someone else will do it and cheat us. We have the minerals to making cement and fertilizers. We need factories owned by the people in the region for us to get resources to develop our region,” he emphasized.
“We shall attract investors to work with us and develop our region. We need air transport and many other facilities. Being a researcher and grounded in Science, we need to research on many areas that cut across our specific needs to get identify solutions to our problems. As such our region should have research and innovation facilities to support our development agenda.”
In conclusion, Masiga noted that as the region, they have lots of capacity to establish factories that can produce components that make transport machinery and equipment.
“We can use innovation to make all our roads motorable at all seasons and invest and connect our rural areas to railway transport. It is possible we can use this Umuguga opportunity to cause lots of development for the region. And you the media people should sacrifice to popularize our programs,” he stated.
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