The Uganda Industrial Research Institute officially welcomed its new Board of Directors, with the members taking their oath on 15th August, 2025, at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Boardroom.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Minister of State for Industry, Hon. Dr. David Bahati, who emphasized the importance of clear roles between the Board and management. He cautioned the Board members to avoid overlapping their responsibilities with those of UIRI’s management and tasked them with providing focused and strategic leadership to the Institute.
New Machinery Now Operational
UIRI’s upgraded technology portfolio includes:
- Automated Advanced Homogenizing/Emulsifying Equipment for cosmetics and soap production. This system ensures consistent product quality, stability, and texture, supporting local brands to compete with imported alternatives.
- Computerised Embroidery Machines delivering high precision and intricate design capabilities for the textiles and apparel sector, opening new opportunities for value-added garments and branding.
- Needle Punch Line Machinery dedicated to absorbent cotton wool production, strengthening supply chains for Uganda’s health sector with locally manufactured medical consumables.
Driving Industrialisation and Import Substitution
This upgrade directly supports Uganda’s National Development Plan and the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy by reducing reliance on imports, creating jobs, and building competitive local industries.
With this technology, UIRI is better positioned to move innovations from lab to market at scale, from cosmetics to medical supplies to textiles, we’re ensuring Ugandans can produce what they consume with quality and precision.
Open to Innovators and Enterprises
The new machinery is available to researchers, MSMEs, and trainees through UIRI’s incubation and technology transfer programs. Enterprises can now prototype, test, and produce at a commercial scale without the prohibitive cost of importing equipment.
UIRI remains committed to deploying science, technology, and innovation to power Uganda’s industrial transformation one machine, one product, one job at a time.
