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By Patrick Opio

Senior Communications Officer

Lira University Deputy Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum has encouraged students and staff of the university to consider registering their innovations with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).

While opening the URSB Training workshop on Intellectual Property Rights at Lira University Main Campus, Prof. Okaka Opio noted that innovation ideas or products should be urgently registered to avoid disappointments from fraudsters. The Training workshop, held on 15th October 2024, had attracted active innovation students and staff from across faculties.

Okaka Opio observed that Lira University has great potentials with several innovation ideas although a few grow to product level due to challenges. “You see me here…. I should have been one of the richest in the world due to perfect business or innovation ideas I have always come out with. Those who get access to my powerful ideas and apply them are very rich…. others confess later,” he reveals.

He adds, “There is one thing having an Innovation idea and another having a business idea. And if you do not protect your product or idea…. someone will steal them.”

Prof. Okaka Opio said that obtaining legal identity or status and safeguarding business name by acquiring a trade name is paramount in innovations and research drives. He lauded URSB for offering to train the staff and students of the university on Intellectual Property Rights issues.

The URSB Team Leader, Mr. Ageet Abraham Onyait, Senior Officer-Search and Examination, noted that the Bureau is mandated under the Uganda Registration Services Bureau Act Cap 210 to register all business entities in Uganda which are required by law to be registered.

Among the benefits of registering a company, Ageet revealed, is access opportunities like loans, tenders, financing etc., adding that business formalization creates more employment opportunities through business expansion.

“Business registration enables registration for licenses like investment, trading and taxation licenses. It enhances marketing and advertising opportunities for increased clientele,” he says.

Ageet underscored business registration to improve competitiveness in the regional market and that registered documents are admissible in the court of law since they have evidential value in the eyes of the law.

He adds that registered documents safeguard the interest of a buyer since they take effect against every un-registered documents relating to the same property.

 “In other words, the registration of documents preserves the title of the buyer. Registering document puts it on the government record which renders credibility to the document and makes it a notice to the public at large in respect to the subject matter of the document,” he explains.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Omech Bernard, the Director Post Graduate Training and Research studies, revealed that there is a plan for the government to construct an Innovation Hub in Lira University to boost the efforts of doing research and innovations in northern Uganda.

Prof. Omech advised the innovators to guard their innovation ideas jealously until the next level of product. “Be vigilant and alert…..Intellectual Property Right is here to help protect your ideas,” he says.

Dr Laury Ocen, a Senior Lecturer and Grants officer, noted that intellectual theft is a dangerous practice against innovations and research, demoralising and killing interests of innovators in coming out with new knowledge that should help the societies. “Legally protect your idea or product and let the general public know for purposes of commercialising and doing business,” he advises.

URSB promised to help review Lira University policy on Intellectual property, regular engagements with staff and students on innovation issues, further skills trainings, among others.

Mr. Tom Omute, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, moderated the workshop.

The End…

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