| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| Although flu or common cold are rarely fatal, they cause, among other discomforts, near blockage of the nose by mucus. This is especially true among infants or babies. | Coming up with a “tiny pump”, able to unblock a baby’s nose, while at the same time leaving the nose undamaged. | If developed and approved by relevant regulator, this pump can give rise to a business enterprise. |
| The HIV/AIDS challenge is associated with the need to protect health workers while at work. | Uganda is endowed with a very rich biodiversity. Within this biodiversity may be plants/microorganisms producing novel anti-HIV compounds. If found, and their toxicity profile studied, these natural compounds can be used in the making of anti-HIV lotion (s). | A natural anti-HIV lotion, if approved by relevant authority, may have wide application (market) in hospitals, salons, first aid kits, traditional birth attendants, and so on. |
| Malaria is the major cause of death in Uganda. It is transmitted by blood-seeking mosquitoes. The prospect of eliminating mosquitoes in Uganda is still distant in the future. | Various tools (sprays, mosquito nets, house screens, repellants, lotion etc) have been developed that kill or ward off blood-seeking mosquitoes. Tools efficient at eliminating or minimizing mosquitoes in houses, but while at the same time more locally compatible, are still needed. | Such a tool (s), once developed, can easily sale in Uganda and elsewhere in the region. |
| Jiggers, it is sad say, are still a problem in the 21st century Uganda. | Within Uganda’s rich biodiversity (plants or microorganisms) may be compounds effective against jiggers. If found, and their toxicity profile investigated, such compounds can be used in developing a natural anti-jigger solution or lotion. | A natural anti-jigger lotion may have a substantive market in Uganda and elsewhere in the region. The product may target tourists visiting the rural areas, community based NGOs, government anti-jigger campaigns, health centers and the general public, among others. |
| For a long time, Black jack (Bidens pilosa) has been used by local communities in Uganda and beyond for protection against wound sepsis. Literature shows presence of antimicrobial agents in black jack, which is one of the commonest and most abundant weeds in Uganda. | Establishing whether soil type, plant part, ecological setting etc. influence levels of antimicrobial agents produced by B. pilosa. | Knowledge generated would provide clues on the optimal way of harvesting natural antimicrobial agents from B. pilosa. These natural extractions are ingredients for value addition in making of (i) anti-bacterial herbal soaps (ii) versaline for use in saloon (iii) liquid soaps for use in hospitals and so on. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| In 2013, one of the local TV new channels reported that a student of Kyambogo University, together with his girl friend, died while asleep in a poorly aerated room with a burning charcoal stove inside. Similar cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning have been reported before. | Developing an alarm that is sensitive to accumulation of carbon monoxide . Developing an alarm that is sensitive to accumulation of of methane, i.e. inflammable gas. | Detector of carbon monoxide can sale extensively in Uganda, given that many urban people cook on charcoal and often from inside the poorly ventilated rooms.
Detector of methane can be sold to mining companies, to municipalities with damping sites, to sewage treatment plants, to Environmental Agencies, etc. |
| Uganda’s industry is still in the nascent stage of development. Nearly all its spare parts are imported – just like is the case with vehicles. | Identifying spare parts for industry or autos in Uganda that can easily be fabricated locally. Mobilizing skills in places like Katwe to make or fabricate the identified spare parts. | Become a maker or supplier of spare parts for industry in Uganda (and eventually beyond).
Become a maker or supplier of spare parts for autos in Uganda (and eventually beyond). |
| Because of poverty, most rural households in Uganda use small paraffin lamps ( Tadooba in Luganda) for lighting at the night. These lamps, because of partial combustion of fuel, pose health risks to inhabitants of the household. | Computing/modeling the health risk(s) involved in the daily use of Tadooba for a year or more. Developing an improved version of Tadooba with less health risks. | Constitutes a viable business, especially when a subsidy is secured from government or a relevant Development Agency to produce the improved version of the lamp at a cheap price. |
| Mosquito nets have become the main tool for malaria control in Uganda. But often, one finds mosquitoes in the mosquito net itself, even if it has no holes. These mosquitoes are difficult to kill, especially when a baby is sleeping inside the net. | Developing a small hand gun or another appropriate tool that can be used to get rid of mosquitoes inside a mosquito net or inside a room ventilated against mosquito entry. | Can sell extensively in Uganda and beyond. |
| Earthworms have the ability to regenerate certain parts of their bodies, when cut. | What biological factors are involved in regeneration of tissues of earth worms? | Some of these biological factors, or their chemical structures, may have important applications in the rapidly expanding biotechnology-based economy. |
| Uganda’s warm and humid climate provides a good environment for microorganisms to evolve, grow and flourish. |
(i) Isolation of bacteria or other microorganisms superior at biodegrading organic matter. (ii) Characterizing and studying the superior micro-biodegradors. (iii) Isolating gene(s) and protein(s) involved in the superior biodegradation. (i) Isolating local microorganisms thriving in oil-polluted environments in Uganda. (ii) Studying the isolated microorganisms for capacity to degrade oil or oil-related products. |
Identified organisms or their products may be marketed to municipalities with damping sites, sewage treatment plants, bio-gas producers, farmers with manure decomposing sites etc. The genes or their products may be patented. They would sell worldwide to industry, research, etc. |
| Some bacteria isolated from decomposing rubbish produce pigment dyes. | Might dyes from bacteria have advantages over current dyes used in fabrics, house paints, etc.? | Knowledge generated, if affirmative, may have a commercial application; cell culture techniques would allow commercial production of bacteria derived dyes. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| One of the biggest challenges facing the housing industry in Uganda is the lack of integrity among brick layers and other construction workers. | Developing a taster to enable home buyers or owners of buildings establish the quality of their houses after construction (i.e. right mix of cement, sand, etc.). | The tester – if simple, effective and easy to use – would have a big market in Uganda and beyond. |
| Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is becoming a part of Uganda’s education. | Developing a soft ware or an application that can improve information flow from administration to staff or students and vice versa. | The application can be sold to schools and other educational institutions. |
| There were watches, once upon a time, powered by manually generated energy – stored in form of spring-coil. Can the same concept be borrowed to come up with ways of charging phones, torches, etc., in view of the increasing need for cleaner energy? | Finding ways in which manually applied energy can be converted into chemical energy. | This knowledge can be used in developing a wide range of appliances suitable for rural life or homes with unreliable power supply. |
| Many skin lotions or jelly on the market are not effective, as stated in their promotions and marketing. | Analyze the effectiveness of locally made body lotions or jelly in the treatment of skin infections. Coming up with ingredients that could be added to enhance the effectiveness of these products in treating or correcting skin infections. | These ingredients, if safe, can be sold to companies making skin lotions at a recoverable cost. Alternatively, they can be use develop new skin protective lotions. |
| Daily, men across Uganda go to salons to have their hair cut and hair is discarded into a rubbish-bin. | Can the cut human hair be used in selecting microorganisms that are superior at decomposing organic matter or microorganisms with capability to degrade plastic-like materials? Can the cut hair be used to select microorganism that produce products relevant to human health or microorganisms that are protective in hair? |
Any of this knowledge, if affirmative, may have a commercial value. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| Drivers are often disturbed by people calling when they are driving. This equally applies to people driving personal cars. Although ear-phone receivers enable someone to receive calls with both hands on the steering wheel, mind interference due to phone-calls remains a problem. | Developing a software or a feature that can caution, whoever is calling, that the other person is driving. That he or she should proceed to make the call only when it is absolutely necessary. | Can easily be sold to mobile phone manufacturers. |
| Uganda has registered a phenomenon increase in the number of vehicles on its roads. But nearly all these vehicles are second hand cars. Many start developing mechanical problems soon after. The number of vehicles in Bad Mechanical Condition (BMC) are therefore steadily rising in Uganda. | Prospect of buying vehicles which are in BMC, dismantle and sale them as scrap. Viability of selling spare parts obtained from dismantled vehicles in BMC. | Setting up a recycling garage dealing in abandoned or soon to be abandoned (BMC) vehicles. |
| Passengers in buses or mini-buses often find themselves in conflict while traveling; open window means fresh air to some while others complain of inconveniencing wind current. | Design windows or wind screens that restrict wind current to passenger(s) in a given seat(s) | The design(s), if viable, can sale to the lucrative auto industry |
| Animals, unlike humans, rarely suffer tooth decay. | Does literature support this view? If so, why? This question applies especially to teethed-animals whose diet is rich in sugars and other carbohydrates. | Findings could be sold to the tooth-paste making industry. |
| Paper money is likely to stay for a long time, especially in developing country like Uganda. Once in circulation however, it’s subjected to abuses such as ink-writings, unnecessary exposure to dirt, systematic accumulation of dirty from people’s hands. Yet withdraw and replacement of the notes by the central bank is expensive. | Coming up with a cleansing substance that can clear ink and dirty off the money notes, without compromising significantly quality and appearance. | Can be sold to central bank in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| Mobile phones have become as inescapable part of people’s daily lives. They can be used for identification of people in cases of accidents, loss of phone, etc. | Designing an easy provision on key board for contact of one’s key relative. | A sleek design could easily sale to phone-making companies. |
| Going out to dance at a party or disco hall can frustrate, especially these days with so many dance-songs out there. Disc jockeys (DJs) often end up playing music for themselves. | Developing an on-line application through which people in dance hall, via smart phones, can select dance-songs of their choice. Then the application ranks them according to votes and informs the DJ accordingly. | The application will sale in Uganda and beyond. |
| Local governments, big companies, universities etc. are increasingly developing smaller administrative units that are geographically distant from one another. Overall management of these administrative units is a challenge. | Setting up video-conferencing facilities that can be deployed in Uganda according to, and whenever there is, need. | Can cut costs and time spent in travel to attend meetings, seminars, etc. Especially this aspect can be used to market the facilities for hire. |
| In Uganda, nearly all hospital equipment, clinical benches, laboratory machines, most beds, etc. are imported. When they break down, repair becomes a big challenge; especially, since regional hospital workshops are hardly functional. | Establishing a workshop that can repair some, or all, items used in health-care facilities in Uganda. | Will have wide range of clients; numerous private clinics, many private hospitals, church-based hospitals, and eventually public hospitals. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| Drivers, especially for the heavy-load distance carriers, steal spare parts of the vehicles and replace them with old ones. Similarly, several mechanics remove good spare parts from a car and resale them to the very car owner or to owners of other cars. | Develop a way to secretly mark key spare parts and in such a manner that the markings are not visible to naked eye; visualized after exposure to some treatment or UV-light. | The application can have a wide market. |
| In the dry season, people sweat too much, deal with the problem of dust, drying of leaps, etc. This is noticeable especially among traffic policemen, taxi drivers, boda boda drivers, etc. | Design a safe disposable wet tissue/wiper that can be used to clean and restore softness on one’s face. Improve the package with a provision of a small cream to preserve softness on one’s face. | Can sale extensively, if well marketed. |
| Accidents are caused largely by drivers when they are overtaking or turning. | Develop technology or (an GPS-driven online application for a driver) that can help drivers make better decisions when overtaking or turning. | The application can be sold to govt., municipalities, car manufacturers, etc. |
| Piped water supplies have a challenge of leakages underground or in obscure places. Sometimes, leakages occur in open places but on weekends or in the night when water supply staff are off duty. | A system or an application able to detect water leakage. | Can be sold to water supply cooperates in Uganda and beyond, businesses that consume a lot of water, owners of flat condominiums, etc. |
| Several people/businesses/banks keep money in safes or in sacks in homes. Such money is prone to destruction by fungal (mould) growth. | Protecting (or disinfecting) huge sums of paper money from attack by moulds and other bio-destroying microorganisms. | Can become a viable business, provided it upholds honesty and integrity with its customers. |
| Microsoft-word users such as office secretaries often prepare and send off new letters basing on older letter templates. | An application that can proof read one’s letter to exclude mistakes arising from use of old letter templates. | Can sale to Microsoft company. |