Retired General Ivan Koreta has officially been sworn in as the new Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI)—a move widely seen as an effort to restore order and credibility to the embattled government agency.
The swearing-in ceremony took place last Friday at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC), overseen by HW Harriet Ssali, the Registrar for Special Duties. Other new board members include Ms. Jolly Kamugisha Kaguhangire, Dr. Catherine Wandera, Ms. Magdalene Akite, and Dr. Joshua Mutambi.
Welcoming the board, State Minister for Trade Hon. David Bahati urged them to bring strong, focused leadership to reposition UIRI as a key player in Uganda’s industrial development.
“We expect this board to give its utmost commitment in steering UIRI to deliver on its mandate of driving industrialization through innovation and research,” said Minister Bahati.
Founded to spearhead industrial growth through research, technology, and business incubation, UIRI has in recent years struggled to live up to its promise.
Behind the institution’s challenges is a growing cloud of controversy surrounding long-serving Executive Director Prof. Charles Kwesiga. Critics, including former board members and parliamentary committees, accuse him of ignoring board directives and centralizing power—leading to governance breakdowns and strategic drift.
UIRI has also faced persistent allegations of mismanagement, stalled projects, and underutilized resources. Several Auditor General and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reports have pointed to governance loopholes, failure to operationalize multimillion-dollar equipment, and a disconnect between UIRI’s vision and its actual performance.
In 2022, Parliament’s Committee on Trade warned that infighting and lack of leadership direction were crippling UIRI’s contribution to Uganda’s industrialization agenda.
Gen. Ivan Koreta’s appointment comes at a critical juncture.
A respected veteran of the National Resistance Army (NRA) and former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Koreta is widely known for his discipline, integrity, and experience in public service. Many observers believe he brings the kind of steady leadership and authority that UIRI urgently needs.
As the new board settles in, expectations are high that it will not only improve governance but also restore the institute’s credibili
