At the 4th Business Trendsetter’s Forum, businessman and seasoned entrepreneur Miraj Barot, the Joint Managing Director of Tirupati Development (U) Ltd won the coveted Business Trendsetter Private Sector award for his innovations at Tirupati Business Park in Kyebando, a Kampala suburb, along the Northern Bypass.

The victorious Barot saw off competition from Irene Birungi Mugisha, the Director of ARC and Ideator PCF, Richard Zulu, the Founder of Outbox Hub and Goretti Massadde, the CEO of Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services.

Barot said Tirupati Business Park in Kyebando is home to 200 Micro, Small, and Medium, Enterprises (MSMEs) manufacturing different products. He added that the MSMEs provide more than 2,000 jobs directly and indirectly to Ugandans.

He further revealed that the next phase of the park will create more jobs when 250 MSMEs set up mini-factories. “We want to provide affordable condominiums so that small factories are set to create jobs and bolster the economy through paying taxes,” Barot said of his plans.

In the other categories, Ramathan Ggoobi won the Business Trendsetter Public Sector category, seeing off competition from Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Sarah Ndoboli Kataike, the State Minister for Luwero, and Simon Kasyate, the KCCA spokesperson.

Irene Birungi defeated Elly Karuhanga of Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, Dr Henery Clarke Kisembo, the Chairman of DALI, and Amos Wekesa of Great Lakes Safaris in the category of Business Trendsetter 2022/2023 Hero.

In the category of Life Time Achievers, Wasswa Birigwa, the Chairperson of FDC, Peter Sematimba, Robert Kabushenga and Josephat Machete were awarded.

The Founder of the Business Trendsetters Forum and Awards, Yvonne Mpanga said each year business trends tracers identify business leaders who are championing new business trends for recognition.