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OPINION

By Okettayot V. Okema

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Entrepreneurship Support and Start-up Ecosystem Strengthening Advisor project has kicked off.

The project, being implemented under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, aims at promoting the mobilisation of innovation and leapfrog solutions developed by start-ups in Uganda.

The project was launched by the trade ministry and JICA in November 2023 during the Uganda Innovation Week celebrations held at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, Kampala.

This comes at an opportune time when the trade ministry is putting together a National Start-up policy, together with the Ugandan start-up ecosystem.

The start-up policy aims to create a favourable environment for Ugandan start-ups to launch, grow and succeed.

This is part of a holistic approach to address the needs of start-ups throughout their life cycle, from early-stage incubation to growth and expansion.

By reducing barriers, providing support and fostering innovation, the Government intends to help start-ups contribute to economic growth, job creation and social progress.

Some of the key activities of this project will involve supporting the start-up ecosystem through collaboration with ministries, departments, agencies, incubators, investors and academia to strengthen the support system for start-ups.

On the start-up scene, the project will enhance the capacity of accelerator programmes to provide tailored support to start-ups, as well as creating a comprehensive database of accelerator and support programmes to provide a networking platform.

The project is also expected to strengthen the Government of Uganda implementation capacity by providing technical assistance to government institutions to support start-ups.

During a recent knowledge co-creation programme by JICA in Japan, l witnessed their thriving ecosystem and a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Japan, renowned for its technological advancement, has emerged as a formidable player in the global start-up landscape, fostering a vibrant ecosystem that nurtures innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.

Recent success stories like Mercari, a mobile market space, has become a global success story with over 100 million users; and Rakuten Group, an e-commerce giant, continues to invest in start-ups and incubate new businesses.

Tokyo has been ranked as one of the top start-up ecosystems in the world by StartupBlink.

Intentionally driven by a combination of government support, technological advancements, a large market and supportive cultural environment, the Japan start-up ecosystem is poised for continued growth; making it a great benchmark for African countries.

Through Japan’s experience and implementation of this project, Uganda is expected to develop a vibrant and supportive start-up ecosystem, increase innovation and job creation and enhance the competitiveness of Ugandan start-ups in the global market.

Some of the trends that will shape the future of start-ups in Uganda are an increase in developing innovative solutions to address local challenges and opportunities, and also focus on social impact in their business models to address issues such as healthcare, education and financial inclusion.

All this is in line with achieving the country development goals and Vision 2040, as aptly laid out in the National Development Plan III.

Overall, the future of start-ups in Uganda is bright.

With support from the Government, investors and the ecosystem, Ugandan start-ups have the potential to make a significant contribution to the country’s economic and social development.

The writer is the Deputy Chairman, Start-up Policy Interventions Project, MSME Directorate, Ministry of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives