KIU Seals Strategic Partnership with Capital Solutions to Advance Innovation and Entrepreneurship

KIU, Main Campus - Kampala International University (KIU) on Thursday, 04th June, 2026 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U) with Capital Solutions Limited at the Main Campus. The officially launched partnership was implemented to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Muhammed Ngoma captured the spirit of the collaboration when he said: “Education is not only about the one who is getting it, to get a job. It goes beyond that. Students should learn how to live with society and solve societal problems in innovative ways that can also earn them a living.” He emphasized KIU’s Community Engagement Program, which requires students to identify and solve societal challenges, making this partnership a natural fit.

Capital Solutions Limited, under the leadership of Dr. Joyce Namirimo Tamale (PhD, FCCA), Co-Founder and CEO, brings over a decade of experience in building social enterprises. Dr. Tamale explained: “Innovation can only thrive if knowledge is put into practice. We take student ideas to the market through coaching, mentorship, and support. This MoU marks a true engagement we treasure, and we hope it becomes practical, not just paper.” Since 2014, Capital Solutions has supported more than 2,656 enterprises, invested in 465 ventures, and created nearly 2,500 jobs, proving its ability to transform ideas into impact.

Dr. Buhari Muhammad, KIU Western Deputy Director of Innovations, added: “Our idea is to transform KIU from research and innovation to sustainable development solutions. This partnership helps us link students’ ideas to the market.”

Already, Capital Solutions has committed to training 10 female students under its Support Our Innovators masterclass, with mentorship, production, and marketing support to help them actualize their dreams.

The partnership will focus on promoting a culture of innovation, commercializing research outputs, strengthening incubation centres, enhancing access to grants and investment, and supporting youth-led and women-led enterprises. It will also foster collaboration across academia, industry, government, and communities to develop solutions in health, agriculture, education, technology, and sustainability.

The expected impact is far-reaching: creating jobs and self-employment opportunities, increasing successful start-ups, accelerating commercialization of Ugandan innovations, and contributing to Uganda Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan. As Prof. Ngoma reminded: “My prayer is that we don’t make this MoU just an add-on for listing numbers, but that we make it work.”

This partnership is more than a signed document. It is a pledge to innovate together, to empower students and communities, and to build a future where Ugandans are not only seeking opportunities but creating them.

KIU Western Campus, through the dedicated efforts of Umar Masereka, KIU DRICE Publications and Grants Manager, who fostered communication and championed the signing of the MoU, set the stage for a collaboration poised to be a catalyst for ideas, innovation, and transformation.