Physical Sciences
Physics, Chemistry, Materials
Uganda National Secondary School Science Fair
Projects, research, and the Science Fair
Secondary school students design a real project, write a real proposal, and defend it in front of judges — from a school fair, to a regional fair, to the national fair. No laboratory required.
Program Overview
Discover research before university
The program introduces talented secondary school students to scientific research, engineering design, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Students work alongside university faculty, engineers, scientists, and industry professionals to develop practical solutions to real-world challenges while building the skills that prepare them for university and STEM careers.
Aerospace EngineeringRoboticsArtificial IntelligenceComputer ProgrammingEnvironmental ScienceRenewable EnergyBiomedical EngineeringAgricultural TechnologyDrone Technology (UAVs)Data ScienceMechanical EngineeringCivil Engineering
Why Join?
What students will do
Conduct real research projects
Learn from university professors
Work with STEM professionals
Develop leadership skills
Present research findings
Build university-ready portfolios
Participate in STEM competitions
Publish research where appropriate
Develop innovation & entrepreneurship skills
How it works
From an idea to the national fair
Projects advance from a school-level fair, to a regional fair, to the national fair. Dates for each stage are announced to schools each year.
Handbook released to schools
Every school partner receives the Student Research & Innovation Handbook and the Proposal Workbook.
Choose a project, find a mentor
You pick a problem worth solving and a teacher agrees to mentor you. Nothing starts without a mentor.
Submit your proposal
The completed Proposal Workbook, signed by you, your mentor and your head teacher. Every project submits one before any experimenting, building or fieldwork begins.
Review and feedback
At least two independent reviewers score the proposal out of 100 against a standard rubric, checking safety, ethics and feasibility. You get written feedback either way.
Research and build
You run the project you proposed, keeping records as you go — data, receipts, and what went wrong as well as what worked.
School-level fair
You present at your own school first.
Regional fair
Selected projects go forward to the regional fair.
National fair
The Uganda National Secondary School Science Fair, with awards across categories and special recognitions for innovation, community impact and scientific rigour.
Categories
Six categories to enter
Every project is entered in one category. Choose the one your work sits in most naturally — judges compare projects within a category, not across them.
Life & Environmental Sciences
Biology, Agriculture, Ecology, Public Health
Engineering & Technology
Devices, Mechanical and Electrical Systems, Renewable Energy
Computer Science & Software
Applications, Websites, Data Systems, AI Tools
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
New Products, Business Models with a Technical Core
Community & Social Impact
Projects that change something where you live
Example Student Projects
Imagine what you could build
Autonomous Water Monitoring Robot
A student-built solution for testing water quality.
AI Crop Disease Detection
Using technology to support farmers.
Low-Cost Solar Irrigation System
A low-cost solution for agriculture.
Drone-Based Medical Delivery
Exploring how UAVs can support healthcare access.
Smart Traffic Management
Smarter, safer roads through technology.
Flood Prediction Using AI
Early warning to protect communities.
Renewable Energy Solutions
Clean power for homes and schools.
Plastic Recycling Innovation
Turning waste into opportunity.
Program Impact
Research that adds up
- 0+
- Students trained annually
- 0+
- Research projects completed
- 0+
- University research mentors
- 0+
- Research presentations each year
- 0%
- Hands-on project participation
Research Facilities
Where students will work
- University laboratories
- Engineering workshops
- Computer laboratories
- Maker spaces
- Partner innovation hubs
- Field research sites
Annual Research Symposium
Present. Compete. Inspire.
Every participating student presents their research at the Jdiobe STEM Research Symposium before judges from universities and industry. Award categories may include:
- Best Engineering Project
- Best Innovation
- Best Research Paper
- Best Robotics Project
- People's Choice Award
- Outstanding Young Researcher
Who may enter
Any student, any school
The Science Fair is open to students enrolled at a Ugandan secondary school, entering individually or as a team, supervised by a teacher mentor.
You do not need a laboratory, and you do not need previous research experience. The strongest projects usually come from noticing something wrong close to home and being stubborn about measuring it.
Exact class levels, any age limits and maximum team size are confirmed with schools each year when the handbook is released.
What it costs
Nothing. There is no entry fee, and no money passes to your school.
Can my project be funded?
The Foundation may fund part of an approved project where there is demonstrated need, based on the itemised budget in your workbook. Funding is never guaranteed, and it is not required to take part — plenty of strong projects cost almost nothing.
The proposal
What you are asked to write
The Proposal Workbook walks you through twenty-two sections. It is long on purpose: most of it is teaching, and you fill in the blanks as you go.
The problem
Who is affected, where, how seriously, and how you know. A topic is not a problem statement — the workbook shows the difference with a worked example.
Background research
At least five sources, and a summary in your own words of what is already known and what is not.
Objectives and questions
SMART objectives, then the research questions or the design specifications your project has to meet.
Method
The scientific method or the engineering design process, your variables and controls, and a numbered procedure someone else could follow.
Ethics and safety
Consent, animal welfare, environmental impact, a risk assessment matrix and emergency contacts. Every project completes this, however safe it looks.
AI declaration
Every AI tool used, where, and how. Grammar, brainstorming, translation and coding syntax are fine. Generating your idea, data or conclusions is not.
Budget
Itemised in Ugandan Shillings, with a supplier or quote reference against each line, and a note on where each figure came from.
Timeline and impact
Month-by-month plan, expected results and how the project keeps its value after the fair.
Download
The handbook and the forms
Read the handbook before you start. Fill in the workbook as you go — it is designed to be worked through, not filled in at the end.
Apply
Register your project
Tell us who you are and what you want to work on. This is the online step; the formal submission is the completed workbook, signed by you, your mentor and your head teacher, with the school stamp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers for applicants
Partner with us
We invite universities, companies, researchers, engineers, sponsors, and schools to support student research and help build Africa's next generation of innovators.