@article{article_1724228, title={INTERNATIONAL ACTORS SHAPING UGANDA’S STIRD LANDSCAPE: A DECADAL REVIEW}, journal={Akdeniz Havzası ve Afrika Medeniyetleri Dergisi}, volume={7}, pages={19–36}, year={2025}, DOI={10.54132/akaf.1724228}, author={Karataş, İbrahim Hakan and Charles, Kyasanku}, keywords={science diplomacy, Uganda, STIRD, international partnerships, soft power}, abstract={Uganda’s science, technology, innovation, research, and development (STIRD) ecosystem has historically been shaped by actors from the Global North. However, in the past decade, a more diversified landscape has emerged, marked by increasing engagement from Global South countries, including Türkiye and Chinese. Despite this evolution, limited research has examined the full spectrum of international actors influencing Uganda’s STIRD trajectory. This study addresses this gap by identifying and analysing the organisational actors that shape Uganda’s STIRD ecosystem—categorised into five groups: cultural institutions, health research organisations, development NGOs, bilateral/multilateral development agencies, and emerging STI policy networks. Using qualitative document analysis, the research investigates each actor’s roles, partnerships, thematic focus, and influence on national policy. Findings reveal a continued dominance of established donors like the USA, UK, and Sweden, yet highlight a growing role of actors such as Türkiye, China, and regional networks. These actors contribute through funding, institutional partnerships, and capacity-building. The study offers insights for policymakers to enhance coordination and alignment with national development goals and for new actors to craft more strategic STI diplomacy engagements. It concludes by calling for further empirical and comparative research to deepen understanding of transnational influences in East Africa’s innovation landscape.}, number={2}, publisher={Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University}, organization={This research was funded and supported by the TÜBİTAK BİDEB 2219 Postdoctoral Research Program, Term 2023-2.}