Uganda has made a substantial contribution to Africa’s space technology aspirations by hosting the inaugural workshop for the African Development Satellite Project (AfDev-Sat).

The symposium, which was conducted in Kampala, convened government officials and space experts from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda to devise a plan for the development of the continent’s first collaborative Earth observation satellite.

The occasion signified the commencement of Africa’s ambitious initiative to foster regional collaboration in the field of space science.

The AfDev-Sat project aims to construct a satellite that includes components from each participating country, thereby facilitating the exchange of knowledge, cost reduction, and promotion of inclusivity in high-tech industries.

The satellite will be developed for the purpose of climate monitoring, disaster preparedness, agricultural planning, and data collection to support development objectives. This represents a departure from Africa’s dependence on non-African agencies for satellite technology.

Dr. Monica Musenero, the Minister for Science and Technology in Uganda, underscored the significance of African self-reliance in space innovation, asserting that “Africa must have its own eyes in the sky.”

The workshop addressed the satellite’s launch roadmap, training programs, roles of national agencies, and subsystem contributions, with a projected date of 2027.

This initiative is reminiscent of similar collaborative models that are present in the framework of Europe’s space agency.
This symposium is anticipated to facilitate the expansion of indigenous space industries throughout the continent and establish a foundation for more extensive collaboration in the field of space development.

AfDev-Sat presents an opportunity to consolidate these endeavors and leverage resources to accomplish more ambitious objectives, as numerous African nations have already launched satellites independently.