The Uganda Professional Science Teachers’ Union (UPSTU) successfully concluded the inaugural National Science Innovation Projects Competition 2025, bringing together the most promising student innovators from across the country. After months of regional showcases and rigorous adjudication, 20 projects qualified for the national finals, each addressing real-life challenges in health, agriculture, environment, and technology, as listed in the booklet below.
Embeded below is the recorded live-stream of the event, held on Saturday 23rd August 2025 at the ADB Building Theater – Makerere University Business School Nakawa, Kampala.
Following a highly competitive exhibition and pitching session, the Top 5 projects were awarded for their creativity, functionality, and potential to transform communities.
🏆 Top 5 Projects
1. Smart Health Care System – Maryhill High School
This innovation automates hospital patient support using sensors and microcontrollers. The system monitors IV drips, regulates room temperature, dispenses medicine, and alerts doctors during emergencies. It addresses challenges of caretaker shortages and supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
2. Comprehensive Waste Management Machine – Ntare School
A multi-process system that transforms organic, plastic, and paper waste into compost, biogas, recycled boards, and plastic products. The project promotes environmental sustainability, public health, and green jobs, offering a scalable solution to Uganda’s waste crisis.
3. Bicycle Sprayer – Kakira Secondary School
An eco-friendly cycle sprayer designed to ease the burden of farmers who use knapsack sprayers. By harnessing bicycle motion, the device allows for consistent irrigation and pesticide application, reducing back pain and fatigue while improving productivity.
4. Assistive Listening Device – Soroti Secondary School
A low-cost hearing support device built from locally available electronics to help learners with hearing impairments participate fully in class. The project supports inclusive education, improves academic performance, and builds confidence for learners with disabilities.
5. Solar Fruit Dryer – Acaba Secondary School, Oyam
A cost-effective solar dryer with a thermostat and fan designed to preserve fruits and vegetables while retaining nutrients. It reduces post-harvest losses, boosts food security, and supports value addition for smallholder farmers.
Scores for All 20 Projects
The competition attracted 20 projects from across Uganda, each adjudicated based on planning, implementation, scientific process, and presentation.
In addition to the top projects, the competition also recognized outstanding individual exhibitors for their exceptional presentation skills, confidence, and mastery of content. Okello Ambrose from Bombo Army Secondary School and Wambi Desire from Mbale Secondary School were awarded as the Best Male and Female Exhibitors respectively, standing out for their clarity in communication, ability to engage the audience, and deep understanding of their scientific innovations. Their recognition highlights the vital role of effective communication in complementing technical creativity.
See photo gallery– showcasing the excitement, student innovators, and award ceremony moments.
Media Coverage
The competition attracted significant mainstream media coverage, underscoring its growing national importance. Both NTV and NBS TV featured it in their evening news bulletins, highlighting the creativity of learners and the transformative role of science innovation in addressing community challenges.
The Daily Monitor also carried a detailed feature (September 8, 2025), emphasizing how the competition nurtures creativity, problem-solving, and practical application of science knowledge. The report showcased the winning project from Maryhill High School’s Smart Health Care System, praised for its ability to automate patient care in hospitals. This broad media attention amplified the visibility of young scientists and reinforced UPSTU’s vision of promoting “Science for Development and Transformation“.
Key Takeaway for Future Competitions
Judges commended the ingenuity and teamwork demonstrated by all schools. However, they also emphasized the importance of scientific writing and clear reporting, which was one of the areas that determined the winners as many schools had weaknesses in this area.
For future competitions, schools are encouraged to invest more in strengthening project documentation alongside technical creativity.
Conclusion
The 2025 UPSTU National Science Innovation Projects Competition was a resounding success, shining a spotlight on Uganda’s young innovators and their ability to design practical, scalable solutions to national challenges.
UPSTU congratulates all participants and extends appreciation to the schools, teachers, and mentors who nurtured these innovations. Development partners and the private sector are welcome join UPSTU in expanding this initiative which has piloted this year and will be running annually. By working together, we can transform science education into a national driver of sustainable development.”