URSB rallies Youths to register brands under intellectual property to gain legal rights over their innovations.

In her address at the World Intellectual Property day celebrations organized by Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) at Protea Hotel in Kampala on April 26th, the Woman Member of Parliament for Kisoro district also Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs in the Gender and Social development Ministry also Nyirabashitsi Sarah Mateke reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting youth innovation.

According to Nyirabashitsi, youth are key to unlocking Uganda’s economic problems

“The youth of today are incredible and are largely untapped source of original, innovative and creativity that can help drive the changes needed to move to sustainability” Nyirabashitsi said.

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Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) which is a government institution mandated under the laws of Uganda to deliver a number of registration services aimed at facilitating the private sector growth organized this year’s celebrations under the theme “IP and Youth; Innovating for a Better Future”.

According to the Minister, once youth are supported they will utilize the intellectual property system and this will help them in realization of their goals hence generating income, job creation, support communities and also tackle local and global challenges.

Government through the Ministry of Gender and Social development has established various programs including Youth livelihood Program fund that gives start-up funds to organized youth groups, the Youth Venture Capital Fund that can be accessed by individuals through Centenary Bank, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program and also skilling of new innovators.  

Intellectual Property which was core in this year’s celebrations provides means by which individuals and businesses secure value from resources hence enabling the economy to thrive and grow and also a key life skill that must be integrated in daily lives.

In her remarks, the URSB registrar general Mercy Kainobwisho said that youth should get rid of misinformation and ignorance but instead  focus on investing in Intellectual Property because because of assured  return on investment.

“Do not go to social media just to post selfies and do things that don’t add value to your future but instead use it to read, share knowledge and learn because all these spaces are here for you” Kainobwisho added.

The Registrar General also called upon all youth that have brand names, designs, books, songs, everything that is innovating and falling under the category of intellectual property to come and register it with the bureau because this gives their work legal existence.

Several youth that included Matovu Caroline the director of Damaz hands that deals in foot wear solutions, Marble Ndagire the managing director of Gold Pearl Coffee, Florence Nabukenya of Wage spices and Karugaba Ivan of Micro fuse computers show cased their work and greatly thanked the URSB for their extra support towards excellence in their work.