MWALIMU NEW VISION, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 27 Innovations Dr Obote, Maryhill, Teso College The iLabs@MAK has challenged secondary school win schools’ technology race students to find UNIQUE solutions to local PRESENTATION problems. Lira Town College presented the By Geoffrey Mutegeki green wheelchair project. It is solar-powered and has batteries From solar-powered wheelchairs, running it. automated fire extinguishers, to According to Jane Awor, a heart monitoring sensors and alcohol Senior Six student, the wheelchair sensors, Uganda’s students are is multipurpose, since it can be making strides in innovating robotics used to charge phones and light which can help solve local problems at home. using technology. “The chair enables people with Last week, students from 13 disabilities get some income from secondary schools across the country charging phones. Lighting a home ,under their Engineering Design will also be made possible,” Awor Clubs, participated in the Science and said. Technology innovations challenge at Joshua Okot, another student Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. of the same school, explained The schools participated in the that they are still doing research grand challenge which was held to improve their innovation, but under the theme, “Vision 2040; the need financial and technical role of Science and Technology in support to accomplish it. Transportation”. Basing on the theme, Dr Obote College students and teachers celebrating their win as best overall innovators Maryhill High School also had students were tasked with addressing an exciting project of the Safe challenges in the transport system. were expected to make the two Drive Zone. The students are The schools that participated presentations. developing a heart rate sensor, included, King’s College Budo, St Flex Sensor, alcohol sensor and Mary’s College Kisubi, Gayaza High The winners fire extinguisher to help drivers School, Ndejje SS, Makerere College The overall winners were Dr Obote avoid accidents. School, Dr Obote College Boroboro College with 76.9%. They were also Concepta Njolima, a Senior Six and Lira Town College. Others are, the best school in northern Uganda student, explained that the heart Mbarara High School, Maryhill High still with 76.9% and also won the rate sensor will monitor the heart School, Ntare School, Teso College, field track category of the robotics rate of drivers and prompt the and Kira College Butiki. presentation with 100%. car to stop when the heart rate The challenge was organised Dr Obote was followed in the second is out of range (60-100 beats per by Makerere University College position by Maryhill High School with minute). It also sends the location of Engineering, Design, Art and 73.8%. The school also scooped the of the victim to a specified cardiac Technology under the iLabs@MAK western Uganda trophy. In third place specialist, who is using a linked project. was Teso College, with 70%. They gadget to that of the driver. The project aims at promoting also won the eastern region trophy. For the alcohol sensor, Primrose science and technology incubation St Mary’s College Kisubi came fourth Tumutegyerize, another student, through project-based learning in and won the central region schools. explained that it will measure the secondary schools in an effort to blood alcohol level of the driver elicit early interest in science and Why care? and either allow the car to stop technology careers among Uganda’s Prof Charles Kwesiga, the head of or start. young generation. Uganda Industrial Research Institute More so, the flex sensor ensures The challenge had two stages to commended Makerere University that the car only carries its compete in. The first was the robotics College of Engineering, Design, Joshua Okot from Lira Town College connecting a robot right load and will minimise track, in which each school presented Art and Technology for promoting overloading. a project depicting application of science and technology incubation. “You are on the right and Innovations, who Meanwhile, to fix the problem robotics in line with the theme. While referring to those whose track, the setbacks will HIS said Uganda not only of accidents, especially resulting The other was the track field, in equipment failed to function at the help you improve the needs scientists and from collision when cars are which the students would show final stage, Kwesiga encouraged them project much better. Do ADVICE engineers but creative speeding, Dr Obote College the robot at work. All schools never to be discouraged. not feel discouraged,” “Our vocational people. students developed a vehicle Prof. Kwesiga said. schools “As innovators you equipped with sensors which He added that robotics curriculum need partnership, would automatically help the are relevant to Uganda’s currently lacks identify partners who car stop at a distance without oil sector. this element can help you fulfil your knocking any obstacle that may “Our vocational schools and it is even innovation’s dreams” be ahead. It brakes automatically, curriculum currently not possible Tumwesigye said. He should the vehicle detect an lacks this element and to modify it to assured the innovators of obstruction ahead. it is even not possible to accommodate Government’s support. Teso College had an automated modify it to accommodate robotics. We “The ministry will tyre changing system. The robotics. We need robots need robots that support and promote automated system would sense that will be going in the will be going in the initiative by iLabs,” the low pressure in the tyre and oil fields,” he said. the oil fields,” Tumwesigye said. lower the spare tyre. More often, equipment Prof. Henry Arinaitwe, Dr Obote also excelled on the in hospitals and research the principal of track field where robots were institutions breakdown, but at times Makerere School of Engineering, tasked to deliver assignments. there are no people who can repair or called for affirmative action in regard The team had the best robotics carry out the maintenance due to lack to technology. which completed all its tasks. of the required skills. “South Korea placed affirmative Patrick Okello, a Senior Five Although some of the students who action on science and technology and student, attributed their success participated in the competition are you can see how they have developed. to adequate preparations and not studying subjects that will enable It is only through technology that we guidance from their teachers. them study engineering courses at will be able to compete with the rest The robots from each school university, Kwesiga said they can still of the world,” Prof. Arinaitwe said. were tasked to carry an object, pursue their dreams through other Uganda produces about only 600 navigate it through the play avenues. Kwesiga later delivered a engineers every year as compared field and deliver it to the final Maryhill’s Primrose explains how the automated fire extinguisher speech on behalf of Elioda Tumwesiga to China which produces 2.5 million destination. works on sensing fire.Photos by Geoffrey Mutegeki the Minister for Science Technology annually.