The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has intensified its push to transform Uganda into an innovation-driven economy with the launch of its 40th Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) at Soroti University.
The newly inaugurated Soroti University TISC (SUN-TISC), unveiled on Sunday, signals a major step in expanding access to intellectual property services and innovation support, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence and student-led solutions.
The launch drew participation from key stakeholders, including experts from the Makerere University Innovation and Incubation Centre and officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, underscoring a growing national consensus on the importance of nurturing Uganda’s innovation ecosystem.
AI Innovations Steal the Spotlight
At the heart of the event was a vibrant exhibition of cutting-edge student projects, many powered by artificial intelligence and designed to tackle real-world Ugandan challenges.
Among the standout innovations was an AI-powered Ugandan Court Speech Transcription System, a tool expected to revolutionize judicial processes by generating real-time, searchable court records while significantly reducing manual transcription work.
Students also showcased a Hybrid AI Timetable Generator capable of optimizing scheduling and resource allocation in academic institutions, as well as a mobile commerce platform integrating e-payments with QR code-based product traceability—an innovation poised to enhance transparency in Uganda’s growing digital marketplace.
Other notable projects included the Smart Kara Portable Electricity Access system, which enables remote electricity top-ups, and ARAPAI—an offline AI tutoring platform designed to deliver personalized learning, particularly in areas with limited internet connectivity.
In agriculture, students demonstrated a machine learning-based fruit sorting system aimed at boosting efficiency and reducing post-harvest losses, alongside a Smart IoT produce monitoring system to improve storage conditions and minimize spoilage.
From Ideas to Impact
Speaking on behalf of the Registrar General, URSB Commissioner for Finance and Administration, Ekaju Ambrose, emphasized the need to translate innovation into tangible outcomes.
“TISCs are not just centres of learning; they are engines of transformation where innovation is supported, protected, and translated into real opportunities for our people,” he said.
Expanding Innovation Access Nationwide
The Soroti University centre becomes the latest addition to a rapidly expanding national network of TISCs, as URSB accelerates efforts to decentralize intellectual property services.
These centres provide innovators with access to patent databases, technical knowledge, and mentorship—critical tools for refining ideas and bringing them to market.
The establishment of SUN-TISC is expected to position Eastern Uganda as a growing hub for creativity and problem-solving, while reinforcing the evolving role of universities as engines of innovation rather than just centres of academic instruction.
With artificial intelligence increasingly shaping the future of industries, URSB’s latest move signals a deliberate strategy to ensure Ugandan students and researchers are not just consumers of technology—but creators of solutions that address local and global challenges.
