Gov’t Pledges Support to Young Engineers as Children Showcase Innovation at National STEM and Robotics Championship

Gov’t Pledges Support to Young Engineers as Children Showcase Innovation at National STEM and Robotics Championship

The Government of Uganda has pledged to support the African School of Innovations Science and Technology (ASIST) Limited, which prepares students to become future innovators.

Speaking at the Uganda National STEM Education and Vex Robotics Championship as chief guest, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports who was represented by, Ms Juliet Atuhaire Muzoora, the Commissioner in the Ministry of Education and Sports pledged the support of the government to ensure that the country nurtures the next generation of scientists, innovators, problem solvers, entrepreneurs and creative thinkers.

The event held November 29 at the National ICT Hub Nakawa, organized by (ASIST Limited, which runs the Young Engineers STEM Education program in Uganda was designed to prepare students to become future innovators with 95% of participants reporting an increased interest in STEM subject areas and pursuing STEM-related careers.

According to organizers, it was also a great way to expose students to valuable soft skills like communication, collaboration and time management in a fun and authentic way.

ASIST Ltd CEO, Maureen Ayebare Karamagi, encouraged the public, especially schools, to participate in these projects that are nurturing the future of children.

‘’Today is a big day for us to celebrate STEM in Uganda . The children have been learning , coding , collaborating to reach this far. You can see we have children from various regions because our goal is to reach every child in the country. The biggest challenge is people understanding the program .STEM is new and international schools pick it immediately but our National schools take time to adjust and yet we want to keep updated with the trends of the world . We are calling out support for this program. Many people should come up as stakeholders and join hands for the future of our children ‘’, said Karamagi.

Organized in conjunction with the globally renowned VEX World Robotics Championship in Dallas, USA, the Uganda National STEM and Vex Robotics Championship the event attracted over 300 children and teenage students in over 30 schools from various  regions of the country. The event provided the students with a platform to showcase their skills. The top five best-performing teams will represent the country at the VEX World Robotics Championship in April next year.

The ASIST LTD/ Young Engineers Uganda founder and board chairman, Arinaitwe Rugyendo said some of the areas that children are building projects from include technology , environment , among other aspects.

‘’We have been here for eight years and this is the first time to organize the championships. Children are competing in different robotics programs that are problem solving . We are trying to test children from various schools and how competent they have been over the years and what kind of projects they have built, but most importantly to see how our children have envisioned the future’’, said Rugyendo.

Rugyendo said they work with schools and children who come to their training centers adding that they have a curriculum which fits in government set up.

‘’That’s why we invited the first lady as the chief guest to try and see how we begin a conversation with government schools so that every child is on this program. Countries that have developed embrace these programs at an early age and we need government support . We appeal to the first lady to allow us to present this program to the top management in the ministry and embrace these programs in all programs . We are here to support the efforts of the ministry and the aims are the same , the only thing we need now is government support, acknowledgement ‘’, added Rugyendo who was excited to see children build projects that solve problems in the country.

Five pioneer projects from students who joined the program in 2016 were showcased. These projects address pressing issues in agriculture, technology, climate change, transportation, engineering, and industrial works

Over 40 teams of children competed, with each team’s robots themed according to specific industries and social needs. The event highlights the immense potential of STEM education in transforming Uganda’s future workforce.

Mrs. Caroline Kapere Otaremwa, the Chief Operating Officer at ASIST Ltd and Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, emphasized that the competition aimed to ; to promote hands-on STEM education in Uganda’s school system; provide students with the tools and knowledge to build robots that solve real-world challenges; foster creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork in young Ugandans; and showcase Uganda’s potential in producing future global innovators through platforms like the VEX World Robotics Championship

Ms. Otaremwa added, “This event, the first of its kind in Uganda, showcases what our children have been doing through the Young Engineers program. We call upon the nation to support these efforts because this is the future of education.”

Uganda has participated twice in the VEX World Robotics Championship – in 2023 and 2024, achieving notable success. The team returned with medals and was awarded a Google Badge for its efforts in mainstreaming the girl child in STEM education, further underscoring the importance of expanding opportunities in this field for all Ugandans.

The African School of Innovations Science and Technology (ASIST) Ltd is Uganda’s STEM and Robotics education organization. It was founded in 2016 by journalist Arinaitwe Rugyendo to nurture the next Generation of Scientists, Innovators, problem solvers, Entrepreneurs, and Critical thinkers through its flagship program- The Young Engineers Uganda.

ASIST Ltd, a premier education enhancement program, has since focused on promoting STEM education skills in over 30 Ugandan schools, driving innovations and technological education to over 6000 children shaping and preparing them for the future workforce.

Through their flagship brand Young Engineers Uganda, they have been instrumental in pioneering STEM programs across schools, promoting robotics, engineering, and digital literacy from an early age. The programme has become a premier flagship initiative, providing students with the tools to compete in international arenas such as the VEX Robotics Championship.

The VEX World Robotics Championship is an annual global robotics competition in Dallas, USA. Students from over 40 countries showcase their robotics skills in problem-solving challenges. The competition provides a platform for students to apply STEM concepts in real-world scenarios, encouraging innovation, creativity, and collaboration among participants.