SME Profiling
Every growing business deserves to be seen, supported, and connected to opportunity. Through the SME Profiling programme, UIA identifies and documents promising Ugandan enterprises in priority value chains across regions. Profiling helps to understand the needs, capacity, and growth potential of small and medium enterprises. This information allows UIA to link businesses to investment opportunities, markets, financing institutions, business development services, and government support programmes.
By profiling SMEs, a strong database of Ugandan businesses is built that can participate in value chains, partner with larger investors, and contribute meaningfully to industrialization, job creation, and economic growth.
To profile access the link on www.mybusiness.go.ug
Transitioning Traders into Manufacturers
UIA supports traders who are ready to take the next step, moving from trading into manufacturing. Through targeted training, advisory services, and linkages to technical partners, we help traders understand production processes, product standards, technology requirements, and market opportunities. This initiative empowers entrepreneurs to add value to products locally, become competitive producers in Uganda and beyond, increase profitability and create more jobs.
Local Economic Development Investment Committees (LEDICs)
To bring investment promotion closer to communities across the country, the Uganda Investment Authority works in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government to support Local Economic
Development Investment Committees (LEDICs).
LEDICs are multi-stakeholder platforms established at district and city levels to coordinate local investment promotion, identify viable business opportunities, and support the growth of enterprises within their respective regions. The committees bring together local government leaders, private sector representatives, development partners, and other key stakeholders to jointly drive investment and economic development.
Through LEDICs, potential investors and entrepreneurs are guided on available local investment opportunities, access to land, licensing procedures, and partnerships within their districts. This collaborative approach helps ensure that investment promotion is inclusive, locally driven, and aligned with the economic strengths and priorities of each region.
UIA strengthens grassroots investment promotion and enabling more Ugandans to participate in productive business and industrial growth.
The Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development (CURAD)
Incubation Centres and Workspaces
Starting and growing a business often requires access to affordable workspace, mentorship, and technical support. The Uganda Investment Authority supports entrepreneurs through linking them to incubation centres and workspaces designed to nurture innovative startups and growing small businesses.
These center’s provide entrepreneurs with shared workspaces, basic production facilities, and tailored business advisory services that help them transform ideas into viable enterprises. Entrepreneurs also benefit from mentorship, skills development programmes, and opportunities to collaborate with other innovators and business leaders.
Through partnerships with institutions such as Uganda Industrial Research Institute and
The Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development (CURAD), among others, businesses can access technical expertise, product development support, and technology solutions that strengthen their capacity to manufacture competitive products.
In addition, businesses operating within these incubation environments benefit from networking opportunities and linkages to investors, markets, and financing institutions.
UIA enables entrepreneurs to test ideas, refine products, scale their operations, and ultimately build sustainable enterprises that contribute to Uganda’s industrial growth and job creation.