The cabinet approved a proposal to build a satellite station in Uganda in March of this year, giving the country the green light to begin working on its dreams of launching into space by 2022. More insight into Uganda’s progress towards plan for satellite launch was revealed earlier this week by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye.
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3 scientists training in Japan as part of Uganda’s progress towards plan for satellite launch
Dr Elioda Tumwesigye spoke at the presentation as part of the NRM Manifesto week where he said that Uganda’s progress towards plan for satellite launch has already started as three Ugandan scientists are currently being trained in Japan where they are receiving space training at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan.
Because of a lack of proper infrastructure, satellites scheduled to be launched by the end of December 2022 will be launched at a space station in Japan rather than in Uganda. The Minister said, “The satellite will be launched from the international space station in Japan, but it will be for Uganda.”
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While it has been revealed that Uganda will start building a satellite station, the Minister has reported that earth the satellite station Mpoma Earth in Kyaggwe, Mukono District will be developed in the meantime. Dr Elioda Tumwesigye said, “The Mpoma Earth Satellite in Mukono district will be developed and have Uganda’s space centre.”
According to New Vision, James Kasigwa, the director of science, technology and innovation regulation at the ministry, said in 2023, Uganda expects to launch another satellite from America at the US space station.
Kasigwa said the country’s second satellite is being built with the Airbus Group, a global leader in aerospace technology, at their US base.
Plans for Uganda to venture into space technology were revealed in 2019 and the President said the country would be ready to launch its first satellite by 2022. Following the cabinet approval in March this year, Uganda’s progress towards plan for satellite launch has been remarked by some efforts as Uganda will also be joining neighbouring countries like Rwanda and Kenya that have launched their satellites in recent years.
Uganda is expected to reap a number of benefits from this development as it looks towards increased evidence-based technology information for planning and decision making. In addition to that, Space Science technology will be improved to support research for Industrial development of the country.
Another benefit that was highlighted was that private sector investment is set to improve in Space science, Technology research and innovation. This will in the end enhance Foreign Direct Investment and collaborations, which will in turn attract or spur development of new technologies in the country.
Source: New Vision
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