The COVID-19 Business Info Hub spoke with Denis Dokoria, Communications and Marketing Manager from the Uganda Industrial Research Institute to understand how their Business Incubator Program is supporting SMEs – especially during COVID.
What is Uganda Industrial Research Institute’s Business Incubator?
The Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) is a government parastatal under the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation that pioneered business incubation in Uganda. UIRI is founded on a skilling factory model ingrained in growing industry and enterprises through technology development and skills transfer for the manufacturing sector as well as building the capacity of entrepreneurs in value addition in agro processing, cosmetic production, textile and ceramics, among others. As a lead in business incubation UIRI has capacitated SMEs into increasing their technical and production abilities to grow into fully fledged industries. This is done in house at the UIRI campus and also in satellite facilities UIRI supports in communities. UIRI provides technological as well as technical expert support to SMEs and technical knowhow of production processes for startup entrepreneurs. In both the business incubation and capacity building platform, UIRI engages potential industrialists and entrepreneurs ushering them into product and technology development as well as quality assurance.
What services does UIRI offer to SMEs?
Other than business incubation, UIRI offers SMEs innovative product development services, analytical laboratory services in microbiology, biotechnology and chemistry, pilot processing facilities for value addition, skills training, technology development/transfer, ICT training as well as technical and business advisory services. UIRI enrolls in its Business Incubation program SMEs with innovations and products that offer high potential in utilizing local raw materials as well as meeting the consumption needs of both the local and global market. These are given the opportunity of utilizing the facilities and technologies within UIRI as well as at the entrepreneur’s premises through our virtual incubation program. It also offers startup entrepreneurs and industrialists skills in technology and product development through training and mentorship. Additionally, UIRI also gives business development advisory services, branding support and analytical laboratory services.
How has UIRI supported SMEs who have participated in this incubator?
SMEs who are enrolled in the Business Incubation Program are able to utilize UIRI facilities and technology and have access to constant support from expert technical staff. This enables the SMEs to grow their capacity in production and skills. Startup entrepreneurs are given inception skills into industry and enterprise development. UIRI offers trainings in agro processing (meat, dairy, bakery, fruits & vegetables), handmade paper processing, briquettes, bamboo, textile, ceramics, cosmetics productions among others. These skills enable the startup entrepreneurs to begin their journey to become SMEs. The Institute also manufactures technologies SMEs utilize in their production processes.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, SMEs are opting for digitalization of their business. How can such businesses get support at UIRI?
UIRI is stepping up to meet the current trends brought about by COVID-19. As SMEs and the whole world goes digital, UIRI is developing digital training resources as well as marketing resources to support its incubatees and trainers. Through its digital platforms including social media and the website, UIRI will engage the SMEs and prospective entrepreneurs.
How can SMEs apply to the Business Incubator Program at UIRI?
To gain acceptance to the UIRI Incubator Program, an enterprise must make a formal application and provide a business plan, which illustrates the feasibility and viability of the enterprise. Applicants must also be willing to submit periodic financial and operational reports, sign and abide by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UIRI, and receive instruction and professional advice. In short, a potential incubatee must demonstrate commitment and show the value UIRI would add to their business as well as how their business would contribute to Uganda’s industrialization growth locally, regionally and internationally.
Contact UIRI:
Uganda Industrial Research institute (UIRI)
Website: https://www.uiri.go.ug
Tel: 0414286124/0414286695
Email: info@uiri.go.ug
Engeri Uganda Industrial Research Institute Business Incubator gy’edduukiriramu SMEs
Omukutu gwa Covid-19 Business Info Hub gwayogerako ne Denis Dokoria ng’ono y’akolanga kitunzi wamu n’okukulira eby’empuliziganya mu Uganda Industrial Research Institute nga kino kitongole ekikola okunoonyereza ku by’amakolero okusobola okutegeera engeri enkola yaabwe ey’okulungamya wamu n’okuteekateeka zi bizinesi ezitandika (Business Incubator program) – gy’eyambamu SMEs naddala mu kaseera kano aka ssennyiga omukambwe.
Enkola ya Uganda Industrial Research Institute eya Business Incubator etegeeza ki?
Uganda Industrial Research Institute kitongole kya gavumenti nga kiri wansi wa minisitule ya ssaayansi, tekinologiya wamu n’ebiyiiyiizibwa ebipya era nga kye kyatandikawo enkola y’okulungamya wamu n’okuteekateeka zi bizinesi ezitandika (Business incubation). UIRI essira eriteeka mu kukulaakulanya eby’amakolero wamu n’obusuubuzi ng’eyita mu tekinologiya wamu n’okwongera obukugu naddala mu by’amakolero nga kw’otadde n’okusobozesa abasuubuzi okwongera omutindo ku bye bakola okugeza ku birime, eby’okwewunda, engoye, ebibumbe n’ebirala ebigwa mu kkowe eryo.
Ng’abakulembedde mu kuteekateeka zi bizinesi ezitandika, UIRI esobozesezza SMEs okwongera ku bukugu wamu ne ku bintu bye zifulumya ekizireetedde okukula ne zifuuka amakolero aga nnamaddala. Okulungamizibwa UIRI ekukolera mu maka gaayo ate oluusi n’ekukwasaganyiza ne mu bitundu ebirala ebitongole eby’enjawulo gye biba bisangibwa. UIRI ewa SMEs okulungamizibwa mu tekinologiya wamu n’obukodyo obw’ekikugu ku ngeri ebintu gye bikolebwamu naddala eri abo ababeera batandika obutandisi.
Mu mbeera y’okulungamya n’okuteekateeka bizinesi ezitandika wamu n’okugaziya obusobozi bw’eziriwo, UIRI ekwatagana n’abo abasobola okwenyigira mu by’amakolero wamu n’abasobola okutandikawo emirimu ng’ebatunuza mu kukola ebintu eby’omulembe ne tekinologiya ow’omulembe nga kw’otadde n’okukakasa omutindo.
UIRI buweereza nnabaki bwewa SMEs?
Ng’oggyeko okuteekateeka bizinesi ezitandika, UIRI eyambako SMES mu kuyiiya engeri gye bakolamu ebintu ebipya, okukola okunoonyereza okwekikugu mu bintu bya saayansi, okusooka okubayisa mu ngeri gye basobola okwongera omutindo ku bintu bye bakola, okubatendeka obukugu obwenjawulo, okutumbula tekinologiya, okubatendeka mu nkozesa y’ebyuma bi kalimagezi wamu n’okubawa amagezi ag’ekikugu mu nzirukanya y’emirimu.
Mu nkola y’okuteekateeka bizinesi ezitandika, UIRI ewandiika SMEs ezisobola okuyiiya ebintu ebipya ate nga zikozesa ebintu ebyaffe ebya wano naye nga zisobola bulungi okutuukiriza obwetaavu bw’akatale aka wano wamu ne ku katale k’ensi yonna. Zino ziweebwa omukisa ogw’okweyambisa ebintu bya UIRI nga ziyita mu mbeera y’okuteekebwateekebwa.
UIRI era eyamba abaagala okutandikawo emirimu wamu ne bannamakolero ng’ebawa obukugu ku ngeri gye bayinza okutondawo ebintu ebipya wamu n’okukozesa tekinologiya ng’eyita mu kubatendeka, okubayambako mu ngeri gye bayinza okusabikamu ebintu byabwe wamu n’okukola okunoonyereza okwekikugu.
UIRI edduukirira etya SMEs eziba zenyigidde mu nkola y’okuteekebwateekebwa.
SMEs eziba zeewandiisizza mu nkola y’okuteekebwateekebwa ziba zisobola okukozesa ebintu bya UIRI wamu ne tekinologiya nga kw’otadde n’okufuna okuyambibwako mu by’ekikugu okuva mu bakozi ba UIRI ekiseera kyonna. Kino nno kiyamba SMEs zino okuyitimuka mu bye bakola wamu n’obukugu.
Abantu ababa baagala okutandikawo emirimu, UIRI ebawa obukugu obutandikirwako okusobola okubayamba okutegeera ebintu bwe bitambula mu by’amakolero n’emirimu emirala. UIRI ekola okutendeka mu kwongera omutindo ku by’obulimi n’obulunzi (ennyama, amata, ebiva mu ngano, ebibala n’enva endiirwa), ebikolebwa mu mpapula, okubumba amanda, amabanda, engoye, ebibumbe, eby’okwewunda n’ebirala ebigwa mu kkowe eryo. Obukugu buno obubaweebwa buyamba abo abaagala okutandikawo emirimu okubeera nga batandika ku lugendo lwabwe olw’okubafuula SMEs. Ekitongole kino era kikola tekinologiya SMEs gwe zisobola okweyambisa mu kufulumya ebintu byazo.
Olwa nnawookeera wa Covid-19, SMEs zeenyigidde mu kukozesa ebyuma bi kalimagezi mu kuddukanya emirimu. Bizinesi ez’engeri eyo zisobola zitya okudduukirirwa UIRI?
UIRI esitukiddemu okulaba ng’etambulira mu mbeera eriwo kati eyaleetebwa ssennyiga omukambwe. Nga SMEs wamu n’ensi yonna okutwalira awamu bakozesa byuma bi kalimagezi, UIRI nayo eri mu kutandikawo enkola ey’okutendeka wamu n’okunoonyeza obutale ku mutimbagano okusobola okuyamba abo b’eteekateeka. Ng’eyita ku mikutu gi mugatta bantu wamu ne website, UIRI ejja kusobola bulungi okukwatagana ne SMEs nga kw’otadde n’abo ababeera baagala okutandikawo emirimu.
SMEs zisobola zitya okusaba okwenyigirira mu nkola y’okuteekebwateekebwa mu Bizinesi okuva mu UIRI?
Okusobola okukkirizibwa okwenyigira mu nkola ya UIRI ey’okuteekebwateekebwa, ekitongole kiba kirina okuteekayo okusaba kwakyo mu buwandiike ne kiwaayo bye kisuubira okukola era n’okunnyonnyola engeri gye kiba kinaasobola okutuukiriza ebyo bye kiba kiruubirira.
Abateekayo okusaba kwabwe balina okuba abeetegefu okuwangayo alipoota ez’ekiseera eziraga eby’enfuna wamu n’enzirukanya y’emirimu nga bwe biba biyimiridde, okuteeka omukono ku ndagaano ennyonnyola enkolagana yaabwe ne UIRI (Memorandum of Understanding) nga kw’otadde n’okugigondera wamu n’okukkiriza okuweebwa amagezi n’okuwabulwa okuva mu UIRI.
Mu bimpimpi, oyo yenna ayagala okwenyigira mu nkola eno ateekwa okulaga nti yeewaddeyo n’obumalirivu eri UIRI, n’alaga omugaso UIRI gw’eyinza okwongera ku bizinesi ye ate era n’alaga nti ne bizinesi ye ejja kuba ya mugaso eri eby’amakolero wano mu Uganda wamu n’ebweru w’eggwanga.
Tuukirira UIRI
Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI)
Website: https://www.uiri.go.ug
Essimu: 0414286124/0414286695
Email: info@uiri.go.ug
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