Stanbic Business Incubator, Uganda Cooperative Alliance sign MoU to facilitate development of cooperative businesses

The Stanbic Business Incubator Centre and Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to help streamline the businesses operations of member societies across the country.

It entails a partnership and collaboration in the development and sustainability of cooperative businesses through enterprise development, specialised training and information dissemination as well as to strengthen the mutual relationships and benefits between the two Parties.

Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony, Tony O. Otoa, the executive director Stanbic Business Incubator Limited, said the new partnership will allow them to extend the services of the Incubator to Uganda’s cooperative movement.

He said: “The Stanbic Business Centre provides an enabling environment for entrepreneurs in small and medium size enterprises to acquire the knowhow to ensure the sustainability of their enterprises.  Among other programmes, through this partnership we shall jointly develop and implement a series of initiatives on National Content suited for the UCA member societies.”

Stanbic Business Incubator Limited established the Business Incubator Centre to promote capacity building and business development services by way of offering training on different business aspects, sharing information and enterprise development.

The facility is contributing towards the promotion of local content by addressing the key challenges facing small enterprises (SMEs) in the various sectors of economy. In collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and other JV Partners, over 1000 businesses have been trained to date and prepared to supply Uganda’s budding Oil & Gas industry at all levels.

“The Business Incubator will organise and facilitate joint learning, experience sharing and training sessions for the UCA member societies based on their enterprise needs.  We shall also mobilise funding to help with the cooperatives’ incubation programmes and source additional specialised expert training partners in aspects of Enterprise Development and Technology innovation,” Otoa said.

Commenting on the partnership Ivan Asiimwe, the General Secretary, Uganda Cooperative Alliance said the partnership will go a long way in improving financial management and efficiency at the various cooperatives across the country.

“Uganda Cooperative Alliance is the umbrella body for all cooperatives in Uganda. One of our core responsibilities is to help build the capacity of these cooperatives. The Stanbic Business Incubator has had a major positive impact on SMEs and we want to tap the skills and knowhow being offered at the Centre to boost the capacity of our member societies. We shall also conduct ecosystem mapping and profile cooperatives business technologies for commercialisation in the selected districts or areas of common interest,” he said.

Asiimwe said they will also develop mentorship and incubation programmes for their various members in business management designed for the cooperative value-chain and also facilitate business development or partner with cooperatives business partners.

UCA is an umbrella organisation for all cooperatives in Uganda established in 1961.

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