KAMPALA – Makerere University has on Friday, July 5 broken ground for Phase II of the Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC) at the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-engineering (SFTNB) at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
According to the university, the facility will cover 1,200 of the total 7,000square metres space to the FTBIC that is larger than phase I that is currently under 1,200square metres with funding estimated to cost UGX5billion from the Presidential Initiative on Science and Technology.
Dr. Abel Atukwase the Dean SFTNB, while welcoming guests at the ceremony thanked the university management for securing funding for the project from Government as well as recognizing the value of food technology and business incubation by ensuring that Phase II of the FTBIC kicks off and is completed successfully.
The FTBIC Manager Prof. William Kyamuhangire said that SFTNB took the lead in building fully functional spaces at Makerere University by opening the first restaurant housed by an academic unit
“As a university we deal with a variety of people who have other needs in addition to their academic pursuits and so it was more imperative for the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-engineering to take the lead, especially in the food sector,” he remarked.
Prof. Kyamuhangire noted that the driving force for the FTBIC expansion are the increased calls from both Government and the general public for Makerere University to produce skilled graduates who can add value to fresh produce and create jobs for their communities.
“FTBIC is the unit of Makerere University that is open to all staff, students and the greater public with no strings or qualifications attached. However, you must demonstrate that you have a product that you would like to add value to. We shall then train you with the necessary skills to improve it, transfer technology and then once that is done, we can embark on the business side” explained Prof. Kyamuhangire.
He added that “Makerere University has earned the trust of Government by proving that funds allocated under the Presidential Initiative on Science and Technology can be put to good use.I hope THIS would encourage Government to allocate the rest of the funds required for the completion of sub-phase II.”
The FTBIC Phase II project will be further broken down into two sub-phases. Makerere University has already secured UGX5billion required for sub-phase I and needs approximately UGX15billion for sub-phase II.
