Speaker Oboth Urges Action-Oriented Think Tanks to Bridge Research and Policy Gaps

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has stressed the urgent need for Uganda to establish action-oriented think tanks that can effectively bridge the gap between academic research and government policymaking. Delivering a keynote address at a dialogue organized by Kyambogo University’s AgriFoSe2030 Uganda Hub, Oboth noted that the country possesses sufficient research institutions and expertise, yet struggles to turn scientific discoveries into practical interventions for ordinary citizens.

According to Oboth, Uganda does not lack sound policies, but rather the crucial connection between research, resource allocation, and implementation, particularly in critical sectors like agriculture, education, and health. He pointed out that scientific findings often remain confined to complex academic publications instead of being simplified for everyday application.

Using farmers in regions such as Tororo, Kisoro, Bundibugyo, Kalangala, and Abim as examples, the Speaker emphasized that ordinary citizens care more about tangible results than technical terminology. Farmers need actionable science that directly boosts productivity, such as increasing maize yields, rather than complex statistical measurements.

Oboth pledged that Parliament would actively use its legislative, budgetary, and oversight functions to address these implementation bottlenecks. He welcomed plans to establish a Centre of Excellence for Evidence-Based Research and Policymaking at Kyambogo University and invited researchers to petition Parliament with evidence of existing disconnects.

The high-level engagement was convened by Dr. Judith Irene Nagasha, with participation from Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka and support from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Oboth concluded that stronger collaboration between universities, industry, and policymakers is vital for building a thriving knowledge-based economy.

For more details, read the original report on Nile Post.