The Software incubation Centre has identified six viable projects to be developed further by the industry. The projects, Bluetooth Proximity Marketing Services (local proximity marketing service for musicians and small-medium enterprises), Jobbod ( job matching service for job seekers and employers), Lab results by SMS and email (travel and time saving service for patients needing lab results), Mobile betting (allows sports fans and other bettors to place bets and collect winnings from their mobile phones), Radio Advertising Monitor (manages and reports on booking and playing of radio adverts for radio stations and their clients), and Q-Soft GSM Bus Booking System (allows bus companies and their passengers to query, reserve and pay for intercity travel by mobile phone), were subjected to a panel of judges comprised of experts from MUK, MUBS and private entreprenuers, who agreed that indeed the projects were not only relevant to the society, but were also capable of becoming big business ideas. Some of the panelist included Dr. Benjamin Kanagwa, Prof. Hugh Cameron, Michael Niyitegeka, Peter Mutimba, Warren Byabashaija and Francis Egbuson.
The Software Incubation Centre, located in Block B of CoCIS, has been instrumental in helping students turn their class room projects into business ventures. It so far has 25 ongoing projects, which will be rolled out soon.
“We usually advertise for projects and fresh graduates plus students who are about to complete send in what they have for business assessment. I encourage those who have ideas to come for support at the Incubation Centre. I am particularly reaching out to staff members to be part of the mentoring team and help in identifying worthwhile projects early enough. Staff members can also invest in these projects and benefit from the Companies that spring up thereafter. There is a very big potential in them,’’ explains Dr. Benjamin Kanagwa who Heads the Centre.
The Centre grapples with financial constraints in starting up companies for students and processing the necessary legal documents, to satisfactorily serve clients. International donors, including Stockholm business School, have expressed interest in supporting the centre. The Centre is also in talks with local companies like MTN, Orange, DMAK Mobile, SMS Media and Decimal Works for possible partnerships.