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Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context

Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1 29 Ocak 2026
İbrahim Hakan Karataş *, Bagonza Godfrey
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Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context

Abstract

This study examines Uganda’s Science, Technology, Innovation, Research and Development (STIRD) ecosystem within the intersecting policy contexts of national development strategies, East African regional frameworks, continental African Union (AU) agendas, and Türkiye’s emerging science diplomacy in Africa. The rationale stems from the growing need for policy coherence and strategic partnerships to effectively mobilise STI for sustainable development. The research aims to analyse Uganda’s STIRD policy architecture, assess its alignment with East African Countries (EAC) and AU strategies, and explore opportunities for trilateral cooperation with Türkiye. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study uses document analysis of over 30 key policy texts, including Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National STI Policy (2009), EAC’s Regional STI Policy (2022), STISA-2024, and Türkiye-Africa summit declarations. The findings reveal strong convergence in policy priorities—especially in agriculture, health, education, ICT, and industrial innovation—across Uganda, regional bodies, and Türkiye’s development engagements. However, gaps in implementation, coordination, and resource mobilisation persist. The study proposes strategic synthesis through trilateral STI initiatives, capacity-building partnerships, and institutional linkages to enhance coherence and impact. It concludes that science diplomacy, when strategically aligned, can bridge policy and development goals across multi-level governance.

Keywords

Uganda , science diplomacy , STIRD policy , trilateral cooperation , Türkiye–Africa relations.

Kaynakça

  1. African Union & Republic of Turkey. (2021, December). Declaration of the 3rd Africa–Türkiye Partnership Summit: Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity. Africa–Türkiye Partnership Summit.
  2. African Union Commission. (2014). Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024). African Union. https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/33178-wd-stisa-english_-_final.pdf.
  3. African Union Commission. (2015). Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want (Framework Document). Addis Ababa: African Union.
  4. Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: Researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 15(2), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794112468475.
  5. Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027.
  6. Buyuktanir Karacan, D. (2021). Science diplomacy as a foreign policy tool for Turkey and the ramifications of collaboration with the EU. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 8, 49. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00722-z.
  7. Cornell University, INSEAD, & World Intellectual Property Organization [WIPO]. (2024). The Global Innovation Index 2024: Uganda. World Intellectual Property Organization. (Uganda ranked 121/133 globally). https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/assets/67729/2000%20Global%20Innovation%20Index%202024_WEB3lite.pdf.
  8. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). SAGE.
  9. Daily Sabah. (2016, June 2). Turkey, Uganda strengthen business ties, contributing to East Africa’s welfare. https://www.dailysabah.com/business/2016/06/02/turkey-uganda-strengthen-business-ties-contributing-to-east-africas-welfare.
  10. Dal, E. P., & Dipama, S. (2023). Assessing Turkey–Africa engagements (Policy Brief No. PB023/03). Africa Policy Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.59184/pb023.03.

Kaynak Göster

APA
Karataş, İ. H., & Godfrey, B. (2026). Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context. Africania, 6(1), 28-41. https://doi.org/10.58851/africania.1722757
AMA
1.Karataş İH, Godfrey B. Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context. Africania. 2026;6(1):28-41. doi:10.58851/africania.1722757
Chicago
Karataş, İbrahim Hakan, ve Bagonza Godfrey. 2026. “Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context”. Africania 6 (1): 28-41. https://doi.org/10.58851/africania.1722757.
EndNote
Karataş İH, Godfrey B (01 Ocak 2026) Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context. Africania 6 1 28–41.
IEEE
[1]İ. H. Karataş ve B. Godfrey, “Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context”, Africania, c. 6, sy 1, ss. 28–41, Oca. 2026, doi: 10.58851/africania.1722757.
ISNAD
Karataş, İbrahim Hakan - Godfrey, Bagonza. “Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context”. Africania 6/1 (01 Ocak 2026): 28-41. https://doi.org/10.58851/africania.1722757.
JAMA
1.Karataş İH, Godfrey B. Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context. Africania. 2026;6:28–41.
MLA
Karataş, İbrahim Hakan, ve Bagonza Godfrey. “Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context”. Africania, c. 6, sy 1, Ocak 2026, ss. 28-41, doi:10.58851/africania.1722757.
Vancouver
1.İbrahim Hakan Karataş, Bagonza Godfrey. Bridging Policy and Diplomacy: Uganda’s STIRD Landscape in Regional, Continental and Türkiye’s Strategic Context. Africania. 01 Ocak 2026;6(1):28-41. doi:10.58851/africania.1722757