In a landmark event poised to reshape Uganda’s academic landscape, Busitema University hosted its First Annual Doctoral Convention, bringing together doctoral scholars, researchers, and key stakeholders to ignite a culture of research excellence and innovation.  

The Directorate of Graduate Studies, Research, and Innovation organized the convention as a hub for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and discussions on the future of postgraduate research.   

A Bold Step Toward a Research-Driven Future

Associate Professor Saphina Biira, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Research, and Innovation, set the tone with an inspiring opening address. She hailed the convention as a pivotal moment for the university, transitioning from a smaller pilot event last year to a fully-fledged annual tradition.  

“This convention is not just a gathering, it’s a launchpad for transformative research,” Prof. Biira declared. She outlined bold initiatives to enhance research accountability, including a digital tracking system for monitoring doctoral progress, from coursework to supervision.  

Emphasizing the need for tangible research outputs, she revealed that the university has already registered six trademarks this year and is actively supporting students with patentable innovations. “Doctoral research must go beyond theory, it should produce real world solutions,” she further asserted.  

Looking ahead, Busitema plans to establish an academic journal, spotlighting postgraduate research and staff innovations. Prof. Biira also addressed the rise of AI in academia, urging scholars to use it as a tool for critical thinking.  

Patents Over Papers? A New Research Paradigm

Associate Professor Samson Rwahwire, Director of Graduate Studies, Research, and Innovation, delivered a compelling case for patents and high impact research publications.  

“We speak of innovation, yet Uganda barely has two patents to its name at the world stage,” he urged doctoral candidates to prioritize intellectual property. “Why not file for a patent before submitting your thesis or journal publications? It is unconventional yet transformative.   

Prof. Rwahwire also warned against predatory journals, advising researchers to target reputable indexed journals or databases for instance PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. “Publishing in the right places strengthens your doctoral defence and amplifies your impact,” he said.  

While acknowledging AI’s utility in literature reviews and proposal drafting, he cautioned against over reliance: “AI is a partner, not a replacement, for deep scholarship.”  

A Vision for National and Global Impact

The convention signals Busitema University’s unwavering commitment to research that drives national development. With plans for a Third Annual Research Symposium later this year and the launch of the research journal, the institution is positioning itself as a hub for research and innovation.  

"Research should extend beyond academia and address real-world problems” As Uganda’s brightest minds left the convention, one message resonated: The future of research is here, and Busitema is leading the charge.