The Chief Guest, Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, has underscored the critical role of intellectual property in transforming sports and education into engines of national development.
Speaking at the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations held on April 24 at the Uganda Business Facilitation Centre, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports said intellectual property is the backbone of the rapidly growing global sports industry, now valued at over 350 billion dollars.
She explained that revenues in sport are largely driven by broadcasting rights, sponsorship agreements, merchandising, and licensing, making intellectual property a practical foundation for financing and sustaining the sector.
Dr. Turyagyenda cited Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich as a powerful example of how identity and personal brand create value. She noted that when his name and image are associated with products, they become symbols of endurance, discipline, and national pride.
She emphasized that sport and education are deeply interconnected, with education equipping learners with knowledge and innovation skills, while sport builds discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
Quoting Education Minister Janet Kataaha Museveni, she said education prepares young people to lead and innovate, while intellectual property ensures their ideas are protected and translated into economic value.
Government, she added, is advancing this agenda through the competence-based curriculum, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act 2025, and sports development initiatives aimed at building a skilled and competitive workforce.