Uganda, March 25 -- Private universities across the country have asked the government to consider them for research grants in order to spur research and innovation in the institutions.

Prof Aaron Mushengyezi, the vice chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), said the government should open the research grants to be competed for on merit by all universities instead of ring-fencing them for only public ones.

"As private institutions, we should be allowed to apply for the research grants because at the moment, only public universities qualify," Prof Mushengyezi said during the opening of the 14th Annual Higher Education Exhibition, which took place at UCU, Mbale Campus at the weekend.

This year's exhibition organised by the Nation...