Business Network International launches its 9th chapter in Uganda

Business Network International (BNI), a client referral organisation, has launched its ninth chapter in Uganda- BNI Victorious.

BNI brings business communities together to create connections and create exciting business opportunities.

On Tuesday, BNI Victorious Uganda, a new chapter of 50 members, was launched at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel in an event attended by hundreds of entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the event, Diana Kibuuka, the BNI national director, expressed excitement about the launch of the new chapter, saying it is a sign that Ugandans continue to recognize the business and networking opportunities at BNI.

"This Victorious Chapter has found a community at BNI which has over 300 members but have chosen to walk with us because they see an opportunity to do business. Thank you for seeing and choosing to walk with us," Kibuuka said.

One of the key elements of the BNI networking platform is its weekly chapter meeting, where members and visitors come together to network and build relationships.

Speaking to the Nile Post, Wilberforce Nsamba, the president of BNI Victorious, said they were excited to launch the largest BNI chapter in Uganda, with over 50 members on board, and were looking to grow to over 100 members at the end of the year.

He said that BNI creates a perfect opportunity for reliable business people to refer and do business together, but also for business growth training.

"So, launching a new chapter means there's a group of 50 new credible businesses on the Ugandan market who are here to give business to each other and their average experience in business is three to five years which shows you that they have credible businesses and referrals," Nsamba said.

He further encouraged young entrepreneurs to pick interest in networking, saying that it can help their businesses to grow, hence contributing to job creation.

"In the current surge in youth unemployment, we see that Ugandans have become more innovative. The problem is not that Ugandans are not starting businesses, the problem is that they are not making sales to sustain their businesses and research shows that business referrals coverts more sales for you and that is what BNI is trying to teach Ugandans," Nsamba said.

He added, "The youth should know that when you do more word of mouth referrals for each one's business, it is more credible and more referable. It is key that you have a system that markets your product through word of mouth because it creates more credibility for your business."

BNI is one of the largest business networking organisations with over 470,000 members in over 200 countries and territories.

In Uganda, BNI currently boasts of over 300 memberships with nine chapters in Kampala.