The Makerere University Innovation Pod (unipod) is one of thirteen unipods to be established across the continent under UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, a new development model that aims to transform Africa’s public universities into centres of innovation. A multidisciplinary space, development of the unipod required that it would not be attached to one particular college or school within Makerere University, ensuring all students can access the space irrespective of their area of their area of expertise.

The UNDP Uganda Accelerator Lab team had confirmed from previous practice that innovations spaces established in individual colleges had only attracted student participation from that particular college, limiting interaction with other disciplines. Therefore, the unipod was designed purposefully to bring innovators from different disciplines to the same space to encourage collaboration. For example, innovators in science disciplines may not have expertise in arts disciplines and yet their innovative solution may require certain skills like communication and design to enhance market reach. Therefore, the collaboration space within the unipod is critical to encourage such cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing. Located on the ground floor of Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility at Makerere University, the unipod also offers an inclusive and accessible space for all students and youth from outside the university to collaborate on innovative products and solutions.