Last month, Soroti University joined a high-level delegation from the Ugandan government on a technical benchmarking mission to the Republic of South Korea to strengthen Uganda’s capacity in nuclear science and technology.
The Ugandan delegation in South Korea
The visit, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 29 August 2026 to 11 September 2026 forms part of Uganda’s broader efforts to develop nuclear capabilities for energy security, industrialisation, healthcare, agriculture, research, education and socio-economic transformation.
A key component of the visit was human resource development. Identify opportunities for technical and institutional cooperation between Soroti University, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and Korean institutions.
The delegation examined training pathways, institutional structures and competency frameworks that support South Korea’s nuclear sector, including the role of specialised nuclear training institutions.
The benchmarking is significant to Soroti University as Uganda moves towards establishing the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) and the School of Nuclear Science and Technology at the University.
Soroti University was represented by Prof. J. R. Ikoja Odongo, Vice Chancellor; Mr. Stephen Oloya, University Secretary; Mr. James Gregory Okello, Academic Registrar; Mr. Otim Gilbert Denis, University Bursar; and Mr. Ivan Tim Oloya, CNST Programme Coordinator.
The delegation also included officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Atomic Energy Council and Electricity Regulatory Authority.
The delegation examined South Korea’s experience in nuclear plant operations, safety culture, operator training, competency management, emergency preparedness, maintenance, ageing management, spent-fuel management, decommissioning and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development.
The team explored how South Korea transitioned from importing nuclear technology to developing a highly capable domestic nuclear industry with expertise spanning reactor design, engineering, manufacturing, fuel production, construction, operation, maintenance, regulation, waste management and nuclear technology exports.
The delegation visited the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Innovative Small Modular Reactor (i-SMR). SMR Smart Net-Zero City Integrated Control Centre at the KHNP Central Research Institute in Daejeon, and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) where they explored integrating innovative Small Modular Reactors with renewable energy technologies within smart-city development.
KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd. (KEPCO NF), specialized nuclear-fuel company and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), one of the country’s largest electricity generators, operating nuclear, hydroelectric, pumped-storage and renewable-energy facilities.
For Soroti University, this is an important step towards building the human resource, research and institutional capacity required to support Uganda’s emerging nuclear science and technology sector.
The cooperation between Soroti University, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and South Korean institutions will provide opportunities in the areas of student and faculty exchanges, joint research, professional training, technical knowledge transfer and long-term institutional capacity building initiatives.
Uganda’s nuclear development agenda is anchored in the national frameworks including Uganda Vision 2040, the National Development Plan IV, the Energy Policy for Uganda 2023 and the National Nuclear Power Programme. These frameworks recognise nuclear technology as an important component of the country’s long-term development ambitions.