ULIA President Appointed to Key Committee for National STI Law Reform, Champions Libraries as Critical Infrastructure
In recognizing the foundational role of information management in national development, Dr. Fredrick Kiwuwa Lugya, President of the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), has been appointed to serve on the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the amendment of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) Act, 1990. The appointment comes following an official request from UNCST, which is spearheading a crucial review of the law to align it with contemporary national priorities as outlined in Vision 2040 and the National Development Plans. The TWG, meeting on December 11th-12th, 2025, in Kampala, will develop the UNCST Amendment Bill, 2026.
Dr. Lugya’s participation is a pivotal opportunity to advocate for the formal integration of libraries, archives, and information institutions into Uganda’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) infrastructure. Drawing from a powerful presentation delivered at the TWG meeting, he highlighted critical gaps where valuable Ugandan research is lost behind international paywalls or in scattered, inaccessible formats, stifling innovation. His advocacy centers on four key proposed amendments: legally defining libraries and repositories as essential STI infrastructure; mandating open-access deposition of publicly funded research; including librarians in STI governance committees; and establishing a National STI Digital Knowledge Gateway. This reform agenda seeks to transform UNCST’s mandate into a functional system, ensuring Ugandan knowledge is preserved, accessible, and fuels local socio-economic transformation. Dr. Lugya’s role ensures the voice of the library and information sector is central to shaping a law that will define Uganda’s innovation landscape for decades to come.
