By Professor Venansius Baryamureeba, PhD - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I am happy to associate with UTAMURIC as a mentor, researcher, innovator, consultant and business development professional. In 2008, while serving as Dean of the Faculty of Computing and IT at Makerere University, I was able to establish the 1st National Software Incubation Centre in Uganda. This was made possible by funding from Rockefeller Foundation. The centre provided Computing graduates from all the universities in Uganda with hands on skills in software development. The graduates were mentored by professionals from the Ugandan industry and international organisations such as IBM, Cisco Systems and FedEx who provided problem sets in form of projects for the software development trainees to undertake. The centre not only provided the trainees with technical skills, but also with other skills like entrepreneurship, marketing, product branding among others. Every 6 months the centre graduated at least 100 Certified Software Engineers/ Developers. As of today, there are over 5,000 well trained and certified software developers in Uganda. Likewise, under UTAMURIC, I will promote certification of software developers but at the same time work with certified software developers from across Africa to start the next generation of Hi-Tech companies that will give Africa its rightful share of the global market. So far, at least 200 certified software developers have already registered with UTAMURIC and we are in the process of pairing them up in a virtual environment to work in groups on short-term, medium-term and long-term software projects. We are confident and certain that once directed and guided properly, most of the companies that will emerge out of these projects will each be worth hundreds of millions of US Dollars over the next five years. At UTAMURIC, we focus on developing software applications that have potential of being applied across the globe. So, if you are planning to register with UTAMURIC as a software developer, you need to prepare yourself to work on very complex software projects with a global outlook.
UTAMURIC entrepreneurship ecosystem is a one stop centre for great ideas, talent, capital and customers. In short it brings together in one place (virtually or physically) all the key players that include entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, venture capitalists, incubators, accelerators, researchers, university faculty, business development experts, software developers and other technical service providers such as lawyers, accountants, bankers, recruiters, public and private sector agencies, advisors, consultants, designers, contract manufacturers and providers of skills training and professional development. UTAMURIC ensures that all the above are accessed from a one stop centre, which is largely lacking in most entrepreneurship ecosystems across Africa.
I believe in open and collaborative innovation spaces and I will use my expertise in computer science and vast global experience in resource mobilisation, project management, partnerships and collaborations, research coordination and management, mentorship as well as business development to support UTAMURIC initiatives.
My ultimate goal is to use my knowledge, experience and networks to support researchers, innovators and business startups within the UTAMURIC startup and innovation ecosystem. UTAMURIC networks are a measure of both its strength and net worth. As we address global challenges and take advantage of global opportunities, we shall strive to strengthen our networks with our partners in the western world especially in the areas of innovation, business incubation and venture capital for promising business startups that are tapping into global opportunities or addressing global challenges. We shall at the same time, strengthen south to south collaborations and increase the visibility and participation of the African diaspora in our projects and programmes.
If you are interested in contributing to Africa’s development through ideal service as (an industrial) researcher, innovator, mentor or software developer; or if you have a promising business startup that is in need of incubation support; or if you are a foundation, venture capitalist or investor wishing to invest in business startups, research or innovations across Africa; then UTAMURIC is your ultimate partner.
