Africa-Press – Uganda. BNI Uganda has marked a major milestone with the launch of its 15th chapter, BNI Pearl.
Launched on Tuesday at Imperial Royale, the chapter begins its journey with 35 business professionals, bringing the organisation’s total membership to more than 600 entrepreneurs across the country.
BNI Pearl will hold weekly meetings every Thursday, led by Chapter President Farid Muvunyi. His leadership team has pledged to uphold BNI’s standards of structured, positive, and professional referral marketing.
The chapter’s formation was guided by an experienced team of Launch Directors, including Jenny Nyakwera, Agnes Mbabazi, Ruth Hiire, and Solomon Kalule, all seasoned BNI members credited with laying a strong foundation for the new group.
Speaking at the launch, BNI Uganda National Director Diana Kibuuka said the addition of BNI Pearl is another step toward the organisation’s goal of uniting 1,000 business owners in a single referral ecosystem.
“We are launching the fifteenth chapter of BNI Uganda, called BNI Pearl, and what that means is that we have added another 35 or so people to our network. We are now over 600 business owners, only about 400 away from hitting our goal of 1,000 business owners doing business together, supporting one another, and growing collectively,” Ms Kibuuka said.
She underscored the importance of business networking as a tool for entrepreneurs seeking credibility, visibility, and opportunity.
“We have all heard the phrase that your network is your net worth. If you are in business, the people you know and the ones who know you must be the right people,” Ms Kibuuka said.
“Business networking helps you focus on who you want and who you want to be known by. When you get the right connections, they help you deliver, grow, sharpen your skills, and offer better products and services.”
Ms Kibuuka also highlighted BNI’s seven core values, emphasising accountability and recognition as particularly transformative for members.
“In BNI, we talk about give as gain. You as a person can contribute. Even giving someone time as a mentor is powerful. We also emphasise building strong relationships and being the kind of person with whom others want to grow,” she said.
She noted that the organisation balances tradition with innovation, a principle that helped BNI expand during the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting global meetings online while maintaining weekly in-person gatherings.
In terms of impact, Ms Kibuuka revealed that BNI Uganda members have exchanged more than Shs105 billion within the last twelve months alone, reflecting the strength of structured referral marketing.
“Members have travelled to China together, leveraged global networks, and broadened their opportunities. The East Africa Conference we hosted in August has also produced several collaborations, including partnerships in technology, payments, and information systems,” she said.
Beyond networking, Ms Kibuuka said BNI continues to explore ways to help business owners overcome challenges such as access to finance and is keen to align with government incentives and enterprise development programmes.
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