Young entrepreneurs from different universities were on Tuesday afternoon involved in a discussion about the role of incubators while attending this year’s Entrepreneurship Innovation and Incubation Center’s (EIIC) 13TH Annual Entrepreneurship Conference which was held at Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
Among the Universities that participated include; Kyambogo University, UMI, Gulu University, MUBS and other non-university business incubation centres. The conference was held under the theme “Stimulating Innovations among Public Universities and the Role of incubators funded by loans to the Government of Uganda.”
The conference was graced by top entrepreneurship gurus including MUBS’ Professor Wasswa Balunywa, who also doubles as the University’s Principal and Chairman of the EIIC Board. Also in attendance was Diana Ntamu, the EIIC Director, as well as Prof Peter Rosa from the University of Edinburgh, UK.
The event featured presentations from various incubators who showcased their entrepreneurship skills as well as innovations during the conference. Among the incubators that presented was Khalifah Dhilal, the proprietor of ‘Khalif Organic International’ and MUBS staff member.
Khalifah showcased various products including dried eggs, banana, ginger and many other products. During his presentation, Khalifah revealed that his dried eggs have solved the problem of perishability and delicacy during transportation. His dried eggs can be fried and eaten just like other normal eggs.
Khalifah was transferred from MUBS’ Arua campus to the main campus to further develop his ideas and joined the MUBS Incubation programme in May 2017 during the Annual Business Plan Competition search. He is currently being supported by the Principal through his office under the MUBS wide Innovation Agenda.
Other Incubation representatives that presented at the conference include; Jonathan Mugerwa, co-founder of BUENA Charity Services who is also a MUBS student. Aisha Namugembe presented on behalf of Teheca who also happens to be the co-founder and MUBS alumni. Teheca were the winners of the 48-hour innovation express which was held in Kenya July 2017.
Service Bots, Charcoal Fridge and Washable panties and pads were also among the Incubators that presented at this conference.
While speaking to the press shortly after the conference, Prof Waswa Balunywa revealed that MUBS holds meetings with entrepreneurs every month to discuss their problems. “What we do is, we have business plan competitions with the best ideas, we pitch and select those few ideas which we support. But every month we have a network of entrepreneurs who come here and simply discuss their problems.” Prof Balunywa said.
Prof Balunywa appealed to the government that innovation is real and so the state should allocate some funds and resources to innovators, MUBS in particular.
Prof Balunywa noted that Kinawataka traders, juice makers, and charcoal makers are some of the ideas that have come as a result of MUBS training. “Some of the businesses that you see, Kinawataka traders, the people making juice, people making charcoal, most of these have come through our incubation activities. We don’t have space for them but we have been able to link up with them and give them advice where they feel they have a problem,” Prof Balunywa revealed.
Prof Balunywa also highlighted on MUBS’ idea of training prisoners as a way of supporting them to improve their livelihood by giving them not just education but skills as well.
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