Kampala Study Group with Industry tackles regional development challenges
2 October 2026 · Kampala, Uganda
The Study Group with Industry (SGI), held at Makerere University on 21–25 September 2026, brought together mathematicians, students and representatives from industry and public institutions to investigate practical challenges using mathematical modelling. The event built on a contact workshop organised in Kampala in June, where researchers and potential industry partners identified problems suitable for mathematical investigation.
Working in interdisciplinary groups, participants investigated four challenges spanning public administration, healthcare, agriculture and business. These concerned Uganda’s transition between public-service pension systems, the prediction of hypertension risk, investment decisions in aquaculture, and the optimisation of seating arrangements in food courts. The groups explored how mathematical models and analytical methods could contribute to understanding these problems and identifying possible solutions.
The study group provided an opportunity for researchers and students to engage directly with organisations facing practical challenges, while demonstrating the potential of mathematical sciences to contribute to economic and societal development. It also strengthened connections between universities and external partners, creating opportunities for further collaboration and research.
The Kampala SGI forms part of CoRE-Math’s efforts to develop industrial mathematics in Africa, building on earlier study groups and related initiatives in the region. Makerere University’s College of Natural Sciences has published a detailed account of the event, including descriptions of the problems investigated and photographs.