AFRICA TO THE WORLDAfrica's Finest Science Narratives
Wilberforce Tushemereirwe
The boy from Bucundura who developed a life-saving banana variety
As a young boy growing up in Bucundura, Kabale in western Uganda, Wilberforce Tushemereirwe witnessed rampant illness and death of fellow children. He attended the first burial ceremony in 1968 at the age of 10! Several years later, as head of Uganda’s Banana Research Program, Tush learnt that him and his childhood friends had suffered from Vitamin-A deficiency which manifested in rampant illness.
Priver Namanya
That which doesn't speak should not defeat you
When Dr. Priver Namanya was failing at her research of suspending cells in cooking bananas (matooke) she run away. She quit her job and looked for another which she was denied. On the way back to her previous job, she recalled her mother’s advice of “that which doesn’t speak, should not defeat you.” She finally succeeded and today, because of her research, bananas can be improved upon using biotechnology
Alphonse Candia
Dreaming about cancer-free fish
Eng. Alphonse Candia loves smoked fish, just like many people in Africa. When he was informed that the black smoked fish he and his family love is coated with cancer-causing compounds, Alphonse set out to find a solution. The solution eluded him for almost 5 years until one night, in a dream, he saw the missing link. He was then able to develop Africa’s first safe fish smoking kiln that is used to smoke fish while eliminating the cancer-causing compounds
Martin Tumusiime
African cities can be garbage-free
City dwellers struggle with garbage collection. The service is available during week days when they are at work. This means many people’s garbage remains uncollected hence creating a dirty environment. While at his auntie’s home in Kampala, Martin Tumusiime experienced this problem first hand and came up with a solution – an App called Yo Waste. People can request for garbage collection services when they need them.
Allan Muhumuza
Africa's first solar-powered electric bus
Inspired by the desire to have his daughter grow up in a clean environment and reduce traffic congestion; Eng. Allan Muhumuza along with a team of other Ugandan engineers, designed Africa’s first solar powered bus and another electric car (Kiira EV)