You said it yourself. This 2.2 million is a tiny part of the Ugandan budget. And that the Ugandan economy is growing quickly. I think they can afford to spend a small amount on science and technology. Especially as it will help to drive education and economic growth, which leads to more tax receipts, which in turn can lead to more spending on key infrastructure (like sanitation).

Developed countries have their own problems with health, education and poverty. It'd be hypocritical not to suggest that they could ill afford to spend money on science and technology too.

One in six people in the US received food assistance from the charitable food sector in 2021. Maybe the USA can't afford to spend $25 billion on NASA?