Start-Ups, SMEs, Women and Youth in

Business: Enhancing Access to Investment for

Innovation and Economic Growth.
Presentation by
Prof Charles Kwesiga
Executive Director
Uganda Industrial Research Institute
August, 2023
 UIRI’s operational paradigm
(based on Isaiah Berlin essay, “The hedgehog and the fox”)

Hedgehog Fox

Building Supporting
Large enterprises SMEs

The hedgehog views the world through
the lens of a single defining idea (Plato,
Dante Alighieri, etc.) UIRI strives to
support big business or at least aspires to
grow start-ups so that they can scale-up
their operations.
The fox draws on a wide variety of experiences
and for whom the world cannot be boiled down
to a single idea. (e.g. Herodotus, Aristotle,
William Shakespeare)
UIRI support the dual objectives of raising
household income and eradicating poverty
through value addition.
 Core activities at UIRI
• Establish platforms for value addition and product development.
• Technology development; Technology Transfer and Diffusion; and
designing optimal processes.
• Assist entrepreneurs in managing enterprises.
• Analytical laboratories (microbiology; biotechnology; and industrial
chemistry) engage in product analysis and product development.
• Business Incubation.
• Guiding industrialization process regionally (EAC).
Pillars for industrialization – regardless of size of
enterprise

Market

Appropriate
Enterprise Human Capital
Technology

Affordable
financing

Entrepreneurship
 What is lacking?
• Technical skills, appropriate technologies, and affordable financing
• Entrepreneurship and the will to succeed
• Infrastructure
• Work ethic
• Developmental political discourse
 Way forward
• Develop elaborate development plans and assure their
implementation. “A chain is as strong as its weakest link”.
• Strengthen institutional collaboration; (3cs – Collaborate, Coordinate,
Cooperate).
• Invest in R&D and assure the completion of all the value chains
• Plan meticulously for establishment of processing facilities;
(Appropriate technologies, skills, affordable financing, and logistics).
• Develop/impart requisite technical skills.
• Maximise benefits to famers through better understanding of national,
regional, and global value chains.
• Analyse barriers for SMEs to enter markets.
 Namanve Manufacturing and Machining Center

Objectives of the project include:

Development of a model machining and manufacturing facility that employs
state-of-the-art technologies;
Focus is on manufacturing precision machined parts and progress to implements,
and eventually make machines;
Training facilities will engage in modern pedagogy using industrial-grade
machines;
Manufactured products are expected to generate revenues that will, in turn,
support and sustain the project;
Manufacturing workshops will provide a platform for apprenticeships for
technicians and engineers.
Skills for 4IR
• SOLIDWORKS is used to develop mechatronics systems from beginning to end. At
the initial stage, the software is used for planning, visual ideation, modeling,
feasibility assessment, prototyping, and project management. The software is
then used for design and building of mechanical, electrical, and software elements.
10 ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
• Complex problem solving.
• Critical thinking.
• Creativity.
• People management.
• Coordinating with others.
• Emotional intelligence.
• Judgment and decision making.
• Service orientation.
 What are the technologies driving change?

1. Artificial intelligence (AI)

2. Blockchain
3. Virtual reality (VR)
4. Biotechnology
5. Robotics
6. 3D printing
7. IoT
 PERSPECTIVES ON UIRI’s FUTURE PLANS

UIRI’s current strategic plan (2020/21 to 2024/2025) has its theme:

Leapfrogging the 3 Industrial Revolutions and preparing for the 4th.
UIRI’s Vision (since becoming a Centre of Excellence in 2013) has been
to build capacity so as to engage in contract research activities. UIRI
continues to work towards that goal.
Uganda’s vision 2040, meeting SDGs, eliminating poverty, and attaining
middle income status, can only happen through enhanced technology
use. UIRI’s mandates, foci and project priorities, are in line with these lofty
ideals.
Signing of Implementation Agreement

Signing of MMISTC Project Implementation Agreement between UIRI and

AIECO, witnessed by Ministry of Commerce, PRC (2nd December 2016)
 Artistic View of the whole campus prior to construction

Design Layout of MMISTC, Kampala Industrial Business Park, Namanve

MMISDC: Machinery and Equipment

Machine Building and Spare Parts Production & Training Workshop

MMISDC: Machinery and Equipment

Specimens of Products to be machined by Trainees

Programmable Logic Control

(PLC) Training Facility, for
robotics and automation.
 PM launches the project
(Jan 25th, 2018)

Hon. Dr Tumwesige Prof Kwesiga PM Rugunda Hon. Anite

Admin block as of 7-08-2019
Commissioning of the MMISDC on Jan 15th, 2020 by H.E. Y.K
Museveni
THANK YOU!

Contact:
Executive Director (UIRI)
Plot 42 Mukabya Road
Nakawa Industrial Area
P.O.Box 7086 Kampala
Website: www.uiri.go.ug
Email: kwesiga@msn.com or dkamugasha@gmail.com
Telephone: +256 700601819/ +256 757766001