URSB Reaches Three Schools to Boost Student Innovations Ahead of Final WIPO Competition

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has taken its campaign to promote creativity and innovation among young people to three educational institutions as part of efforts to prepare students for the final stage of an international innovation mentorship programme. The initiative is being implemented under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) K-12 Students’ Innovation Mentorship Programme, which encourages learners to develop original ideas into practical solutions.

The latest activities involved visits to Ndejje Senior Secondary School, Comboni College in Lira, and Dr. Obote College in Boroboro. The visits formed part of the second phase of the programme, during which URSB officials assessed the students’ progress and offered additional support to help them improve their respective projects.

The delegation was headed by Mr. Kafunjo Twinomujuni, the Assistant Commissioner for Traditional Knowledge at URSB. Together with other officials, he reviewed the innovations presented by the learners, examined their development and advised the students on areas that required further attention.

The exercise allowed students to receive direct technical support from professionals who helped them understand how to make their projects better. Learners also had an opportunity to present their work, explain the thinking behind their ideas and receive recommendations that could strengthen their innovations before the final competition.
URSB is using the programme to encourage students to develop a culture of creativity and independent thinking. Rather than viewing learning as something limited to classrooms and examinations, young people are being encouraged to apply their knowledge to real-life situations and come up with ideas that can address problems affecting their communities.

Another key area of the mentorship is intellectual property education. Through the programme, students are learning why it is important to protect their original inventions, creative works and other innovations. This knowledge will help them understand their rights as creators and appreciate the importance of ensuring that their ideas are properly recognised and protected.

The involvement of WIPO in the initiative provides an opportunity to introduce students to intellectual property concepts while they are still young. URSB hopes that such exposure will inspire learners to take innovation seriously and consider how their talents can be developed into valuable products, services and business opportunities in the future.

With the second phase of the programme taking place across the three schools, attention is now turning to the final competition, where students will have an opportunity to showcase their improved projects. Through continued mentorship, URSB aims to build confidence among young innovators and encourage a new generation of Ugandans capable of using creativity and original thinking to contribute to national development.