Uganda Industrial Research Institute
Tel:+256-414-286245 | Fax: +256-414-286695
Location: Plot 42A Mukabya Road, Nakawa Industrial Area, Kampala, Uganda Postal Address: P.O Box 7086, Kampala, Uganda  UIRI: MPs want more money for research and innovation The Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) boss Prof. Charles Kwesiga has appealed to the executive and parliament to allocate his agency a one off additional sh28b to enable it execute its mandate of catalyzing industrialization, value addition and entrepreneurship in the country.Appearing before the parliament committee on tourism, trade and industry, Kwesiga explained that his institute needs an additional funding of sh28b to fund its infrastructure, manpower and technology requirements.“That money will enable us set up a robust institution which can fully execute our mandate,” Prof. Kwesiga said.The institute was allocated sh13b in the 2013/2014 budget and the same amount has been proposed in the budget framework paper for the 2014/2015 financial year.If their request is granted, it means government will have to give the institute a total of sh41b in the next budget. Read more ▪ Create banks for small businesses, Gov't told Prof. Charles Kwesiga, the executive director of Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), wants the Government to encourage the establishment of commercial banks dedicated to supporting small businesses (SMEs).Kwesiga said a number of prospective entrepreneurs fail to take off due to the high interest rates charged by commercial banks.He said Uganda’s hope to achieve an industrialised economy hangs in balance unless the Government moves fast to reduce the cost of borrowing. “We must create a financial infrastructure that can offer affordable financing especially to SMEs,” Kwesiga said. “This infrastructure can involve capitalising the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and have a section of commercial to support SMEs as has been done in the Asian tigers like Thailand, Malaysia and India.”Created in 2006, the UIRI has mainly focussed on incubating young entrepreneurs’ business plans by offering technical training and other requisite start-up facilities. However, Kwesiga explained that a number of the incubatees had failed to take off due to the high cost of borrowing. Read more ▪ UIRI to produce, export ceramics The Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) is setting up a $2m (sh5.2b) plant to produce and export ready ceramic and porcelain assorted products.When complete, the plant will also be used as a demonstration and training facility for the development of both small cottage family factories and larger ceramic and porcelain factories.Read more ▪ |