The Uganda National Academy of Sciences is an independent, non-profit, nonpolitical, and membership-based service organization. UNAS was created to provide credible, balanced, and evidence-driven advice to the nation on matters of science and development.

UNAS draws its membership from the Fellowship of the Academy who are recognized for their lifetime achievements in the sciences and humanities. Fellows are active contributors to the national and international academic community. The UNAS Fellowship is composed of scholars from disciplines including the natural and social sciences, as well as the arts and umanities—all of whom have been selected through a rigorous vetting process.