On September 16, 2026, the Management Business Incubation Centre (MBIC) of Uganda Management Institute (UMI) hosted a high-profile Innovations Program as a follow-up activity to its recent entrepreneurship bootcamp. The event brought together a powerhouse of institutional partners, including the Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotions Authority (UFZEPA), the Makerere Innovation and Incubation Centre (MIIC), and the Carnegie Mellon University Africa Industry Innovation Lab.

Driving Institutional Evolution

Established as a key innovation pillar at UMI, the MBIC represents a deliberate shift from traditional academic teaching toward practical, market-driven enterprise solutions. The center serves as a dynamic engine designed to translate student research and creative concepts into sustainable, scalable business ventures, effectively bridging the gap between theory and commercial execution.

Highlights from the proceedings

The event commenced with opening remarks delivered by Professor Turyasingura Wilberforce who commended the participants’ readiness for knowledge sharing and applauded the collaborative efforts of all institutional partners. Adding institutional depth to the program, Mr. Collins Mugadya, the Programs and Mentorship Officer spoke on behalf of the head of MIIC and emphasized that the showcase was the culmination of extensive roadmap consultations aimed at generating practical, scalable solutions for adoption across UMI branches and beyond. The proceedings moved into the pitching segment moderated by Mr. Moses Balam, the Business Development Officer. This high-stakes session featured presentations evaluated by a panel of judges, with each competing team given an opportunity to pitch their venture which culminated into a rigorous question and answer session.

Strategic Impact and Future Outlook

The UFZEPA representative noted that the initiative directly aligns with Uganda’s national development strategies on innovation. He expressed strong satisfaction with the competing teams and extended an invitation for them to present to top management at UFZEPA.

Professor Rose B. Namara expressed immense pride in the quality of the presentations, noting a remarkable evolution from earlier years when institutional innovations were scarce. She assured non-winning teams that platforms would still be arranged for them to pitch before key stakeholders, including the National Council for Higher Education and the Vice Chancellors’ Forum.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Kampumure, the Head of the Department of Finance and Accounting represented the Director General and emphasized that the program directly advances two critical pillars of the UMI Strategic Plan: driving innovation and enhancing institutional visibility. He urged participants to leverage emerging technologies like artificial intelligence constructively before officially drawing the successful event to a close.