The Uganda Professional Science Teachers’ Union (UPSTU) on 5th March 2026 hosted a ProDev Hour information session to brief science teachers, school leaders, and stakeholders on the upcoming UPSTU Science Innovation Projects Competition 2026.
The session, facilitated by Auma Betty, Chairperson of the UPSTU Education Committee, introduced the theme for the 2026 edition, outlined the competition roadmap, and provided practical guidance to schools on how to prepare strong student innovation projects.
This information session forms part of the weekly UPSTU ProDev Hour, an online professional development platform that empowers science teachers through continuous training, policy dialogue, innovation support, and updates on union programs.
Strengthening Science Innovation Project Work in Ugandan Schools
UPSTU continues to play an important role in strengthening science education in Uganda by empowering science teachers and creating opportunities for learners to apply scientific knowledge in practical ways.
One of the key initiatives under the UPSTU Education Committee is the Science Innovation Projects Competition, which provides a national platform for students to demonstrate creativity, innovation, and problem-solving through project-based learning.
The competition aligns closely with Uganda’s competence-based curriculum, where project work forms an important component of learner assessment and the development of practical scientific skills.
By encouraging students to design and build solutions to real-world challenges, the competition promotes STEM innovation in schools and nurtures future scientists, engineers, and innovators.
Building on the Success of the 2025 Competition
The session reflected on the success of the inaugural UPSTU Science Innovation Projects Competition held in 2025, which attracted innovative student projects from secondary schools across several regions of Uganda.
The projects showcased remarkable creativity and addressed real-life challenges in areas such as:
- Agriculture and food security
- Environmental conservation
- Health and sanitation
- Technology and engineering solutions
The experience demonstrated that learners have immense potential to develop innovative solutions when provided with mentorship, resources, and opportunities to present their ideas.
Encouraged by the success of the first edition, UPSTU has expanded preparations for an even stronger 2026 competition.
Theme for the 2026 Science Innovation Projects Competition
The theme for the 2026 edition is:
“Scientific Innovations for Inclusive and Sustainable Development“
This theme challenges students to develop innovations that contribute to solving community challenges while promoting sustainability and inclusiveness.
Projects are expected to demonstrate how scientific knowledge can be applied to:
- Improve livelihoods and community wellbeing
- Promote environmental sustainability
- Support inclusive solutions for all people, including persons with special needs
- Address local challenges using practical scientific approaches
Through this theme, the competition aims to inspire learners to use science as a tool for social transformation and sustainable development.
Why the Science Innovation Projects Competition Matters
The UPSTU Science Innovation Projects Competition goes beyond a typical science fair. It is designed to strengthen the practical application of science in Ugandan schools.
The competition aims to:
- Promote project-based learning under the competence-based curriculum
- Encourage creativity, innovation, and critical thinking among learners
- Develop students’ scientific problem-solving skills
- Provide a national platform for schools to showcase their innovative science projects
- Recognize the mentorship and dedication of science teachers guiding student innovators
Through this initiative, UPSTU is helping to build a culture where science education is not only theoretical but also practical, innovative, and solution-oriented.
Lessons Learned from the 2025 Edition
The inaugural edition of the competition provided valuable lessons that will shape the 2026 program.
One of the most important observations was that learners are capable of producing high-quality innovations when teachers provide strong mentorship and encourage curiosity.
Many successful projects addressed real community challenges and demonstrated practical scientific application.
The experience also highlighted the importance of:
- Early preparation of projects
- Strong mentorship from science teachers
- Collaboration among science departments within schools
These lessons are now being incorporated into the planning of the 2026 competition.
Feedback from the 2025 Participant Survey
To further improve the competition, UPSTU conducted a participant evaluation survey involving teachers, judges, and organizers who participated in the 2025 edition.
The Education Committee expressed appreciation to all respondents who shared their insights and recommendations.
The survey results indicated that:
- Most respondents rated the competition positively
- Schools reported that the initiative strengthened project-based learning
- Teachers welcomed the opportunity for students to showcase innovation
Participants also recommended improvements such as earlier communication of timelines and additional guidance for schools preparing projects.
These suggestions have been incorporated into the planning process for the 2026 Science Innovation Projects Competition.
Who Can Participate in the Competition?
The competition is open to secondary schools across Uganda, and student projects should be developed under the guidance of science teachers.
Projects may originate from a wide range of STEM-related disciplines, including:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- ICT
- Agriculture
- Environmental Science
- Interdisciplinary STEM innovations
Students are encouraged to identify real-world problems within their communities and develop practical solutions using scientific knowledge and locally available resources.
How the Competition Will Be Conducted
The UPSTU Science Innovation Projects Competition will be conducted in three major stages.
1. Project Submission
Schools will submit project proposals and reports through the UPSTU website at upstu.org/submit.
2. Regional Science Innovation Exhibitions
A panel of experts will review submissions and shortlist projects that will participate in regional exhibitions.
3. National Science Innovation Exhibition
The best projects from each region will qualify for the National Innovation Exhibition, where finalists will present their work and compete for national recognition and awards.
This structure ensures that schools from across Uganda have the opportunity to showcase their innovations.
Roadmap for the 2026 Competition
During the ProDev Hour session, participants were also guided through the competition timeline for 2026.
Key milestones include:
- March – April 2026: Call for project submissions
- 30th April 2026: Deadline for submission of projects
- May 2026: Expert vetting and shortlisting of projects
- June – July 2026: Regional innovation exhibitions in Jinja, Masaka, Arua, and Fort Portal
- July 2026: Final National Science Innovation Exhibition
The roadmap ensures that schools have sufficient time to prepare quality innovation projects and participate in regional and national events.
Preparing Strong Science Innovation Projects
Teachers participating in the session were encouraged to guide learners in developing well-documented and practical projects.
Schools should prepare materials for both exhibition and presentation, including:
- Project reports explaining the innovation process
- Prototypes or working models
- Demonstration videos showing the innovation in action
- PowerPoint presentations for pitching the project
The project report should clearly document the journey of the innovation—from the initial idea to the final solution—while highlighting the scientific principles used.
A sample project reports and slides template is available on the UPSTU Digital Library.
A Call for Sponsors and Strategic Partners
UPSTU also used the session to invite government agencies, development partners, private sector organizations, universities, and research institutions to support the competition.
Partnerships will play a critical role in expanding the reach and impact of the Science Innovation Projects Competition.
Organizations can support the initiative through:
- Sponsorship of awards for outstanding student innovators
- Support for regional exhibitions and national events
- Technical mentorship for student projects
- Collaboration in STEM education and innovation programs
A call for partners form has been published via upstu.org/call-for-partners.
By partnering with UPSTU, organizations contribute directly to nurturing Uganda’s next generation of scientists, innovators, and problem-solvers.
Watch the Full ProDev Hour Information Session
The full recording of the Information Session on the 2026 Science Innovation Projects Competition can be viewed below.
Session Slides are Shared below:
Encouraging Schools to Participate
UPSTU encourages science teachers and schools across the country to begin preparing projects early and actively engage learners in identifying real-world problems that require innovative solutions.
Teachers remain central to this initiative as mentors who guide research, encourage curiosity, and inspire students to think creatively.
Through initiatives like the Science Innovation Projects Competition, UPSTU continues to promote its mission of “Science for Development and Transformation.”