Uganda, in partnership with the Egyptian Space Agency and five other African nations, is co-developing a satellite aimed at improving climate change monitoring and technological capacity building across the continent.
The project, known as the African Development Satellite (AfDev-Sat), was revealed by Dr. Cosmas Mwikirize, Superintendent of Industrial Value Chains Development at the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat, during a press briefing for the upcoming Science Week.
Science Week is scheduled to run from Sunday, June 15 to Friday, June 20 at Kololo Independence Grounds, under the theme “Made in Uganda: From Innovation to Market.”
The event will feature over 500 exhibitors showcasing locally developed products and innovations.
Uganda’s Space Program: From Learning to Launch
Uganda’s journey into space science began with three engineering students sent to Japan, where they developed the country’s first small satellite, 1UQ, a cube satellite measuring just 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters.
“For all intents and purposes, that was a learning experience. We did not spend any additional resources on developing that satellite. It was launched successfully, though it had a very short lifespan,” Dr Mwikirize explained.
Despite its limited operational period, the mission successfully laid the foundation for Uganda’s aerospace engineering capacity and generated national pride in its space ambitions.
“It’s important to appreciate the full scope of our Aerospace Program—not just satellites,” Dr. Mwikirize added.
“If you don’t have eyes in space, it’s like someone else always having eyes in your bedroom, while you don’t.”
Regional Collaboration for Shared Development
The AfDev-Sat initiative reflects a regional approach to space exploration and technology development. Uganda is working alongside Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and under the coordination of the Egyptian Space Agency, which leads the project.
“Developing a satellite is difficult and expensive, which is why we partnered with other African countries,” Dr. Mwikirize said.
He noted that Ugandan engineers, who trained in Egypt, have already developed a computer system for the satellite, and integration of components is currently underway.
The team hopes to launch the satellite by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
Practical Applications of Satellite Technology
Dr. Mwikirize emphasized the practical benefits of satellite data, especially in weather forecasting and climate adaptation.
“When you receive a message on your phone about the weather, and it rains the next day, that’s the capability we are working toward,” he said.
In addition to climate monitoring, the satellite’s data will support a wide range of sectors, including drought prediction, national security, infrastructure planning, vegetation mapping, and climate finance verification.
However, collecting satellite data is only part of the mission. Dr. Mwikirize stressed the need for ground infrastructure to receive, process, and analyze information transmitted from space.
“When you deploy assets in space, you need ground systems to collect the data—whether from your own satellite or others—depending on your capacity and the frequency bands you can support,” he said.
Expanding Uganda’s Space Capabilities
While Uganda began its aerospace journey with limited capacity, recent investments have significantly expanded its technical infrastructure and international collaborations. The country now has the ability to connect with any satellite orbiting Earth. Looking ahead, Uganda’s aerospace program will continue to focus on three strategic pillars:
- Developing space assets, including satellites, drones, and helicopters
- Establishing ground infrastructure for data reception and analysis
- Training skilled human capital to manage and advance aerospace technologies
“We are making steady progress. We have built critical human capital, and this is an area we are actively investing in,” Dr. Mwikirize affirmed.
The satellite collaboration marks a milestone in Uganda’s scientific advancement and underlines the role of regional partnerships in addressing shared challenges such as climate change through innovation and technology.