The Danish Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Nicolaj H Petersen on 31st March 2022 commissioned the new CURAD Incubation Hub at the Namanve Business Park. The event was witnessed by the Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Dr Gorettie N. Nabanoga and other members of staff from the College.
The Consortium for enhancing University Responsiveness to agribusiness Development (CURAD) is a public-private partnership initiative promoted by Makerere University, the National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE), National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and NIRAS international.
CURAD is one of the six agribusiness incubators in Africa supported by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa under the UniBRAIN facility with funding from DANIDA. It has in place a revolving fund to support incubatees to develop their agri-businesses to sustainable levels while paying back to CURAD to sustain its activities in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
This year CURAD makes 10 years since inception, and the achievements this far have greatly supported CAES to fulfill its core mandate of knowledge Transfer Partnership. During the event, Dr Nabanoga appreciated the Danish Government for the support extended towards the establishment of the facility.
Agribusiness services that CURAD has offered in the previous years have been fundamental in contributing to the transformation and changing people’s mindset, skill-set and thus stimulating the everincreasing interest of young entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
Since 2014, CURAD has supported over 150 mainly youth led SME’s creating over 2200 jobs with its annual innovation challenge a key feature of its agribusiness innovation recruitment drive for deserving youths and innovators. CURAD offers lexapro generic xanax budding entrepreneurs a wide range of business development services including but not limited to; Business idea analysis and diagnostics, mentorship, food product development and certification support services, climate smart agriculture innovations like Improved pastures, specialized trainings, market access and networking activities.
Specifically CURAD also offers entrepreneurs in the coffee, fruit/beverage value chain common user facilities and equipment access at Kabanyolo and Kapeeka. CURAD also empowers farmers and students entrepreneurs through incubation services like trainings, market linkages, Business Development, work station provisions which ensure development of the ventures they are dealing in.