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Strengthening business incubation practices among startup firms. Evidence from Ugandan communities

Bob Ssekiziyivu (Department of Business Administration, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda)
Rogers Mwesigwa (Department of Business Administration, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda)
Eunice Kabahinda (Department of Business Administration, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda)
Sharon Lakareber (Department of Business Administration, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda)
Florence Nakajubi (Department of Business Administration, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda)

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

ISSN: 1750-6204

Article publication date: 17 December 2021

Issue publication date: 8 March 2023

379

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide the initial evidence on the role of business incubation (BI) in supporting startups and BI practices from developing communities in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is cross-sectional and a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data were used. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and an interview guide from 28 incubators.

Findings

Results indicate that business incubators play different roles in communities such as business assistance, networking, provision of necessary infrastructure and provision of an enabling environment. Furthermore, BI practices were identified such as networking, human resource, tenant management and assessment practices.

Research limitations/implications

This study was cross-sectional and thus monitoring changes in behavior of incubatees overtime was not possible. The study was conducted in Uganda, and it is possible that the results of this study can be generalized to developing communities with environments similar to that of Uganda.

Practical implications

The results are important for business incubators in improving the sustainability of startups in Uganda. The study will enable business incubators to understand their role and incubator practices in as far as supporting small and medium-sized enterprises is concerned.

Originality/value

While there have been a number of studies on BI, this study provides an initial empirical evidence on the role of BI and BI practices using evidence from developing communities in Uganda.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This study was made possible with the support of the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (RIF 2) grant. We are sincerely grateful.

Citation

Ssekiziyivu, B., Mwesigwa, R., Kabahinda, E., Lakareber, S. and Nakajubi, F. (2023), "Strengthening business incubation practices among startup firms. Evidence from Ugandan communities", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 498-518. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-08-2021-0131

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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