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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 50 high-potential Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from Kampala Metropolitan, Busoga and West Nile have completed intensive business growth bootcamps aimed at strengthening Uganda’s green and circular economy.
The three-day bootcamps were conducted under the WeWork – Green and Decent Jobs for Youth project through The Good Green Business Accelerator, implemented by SHONA Group in partnership with Enabel and the Government of Uganda, with funding from the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium.
The programme selected businesses from hundreds of applicants operating in renewable energy, sustainable farming, smart irrigation, sustainable fashion and interior design, eco- tourism, waste management, green construction, green manufacturing and digital green marketplaces.
The initiative comes as Uganda seeks to accelerate private sector growth, job creation and economic transformation, themes highlighted in President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
SMEs account for roughly 90% of Uganda’s private sector, contribute about 20% to national GDP and account for more than 80% of manufactured output. However, many green enterprises continue to face challenges including limited access to finance, inadequate business skills, high collateral requirements and skills gaps.
The WeWork project is therefore combining business capacity building, access to finance and talent connections to develop competitive and investment-ready enterprises capable of creating decent jobs while reducing environmental harm and improving resource efficiency.
“Our objective is to move entrepreneurs from being green by accident to being green by design,” said Regina Bamugye, Project Manager at SHONA Group.
“By building strong business acumen and operationalising green and circular value chains, we are preparing these SMEs for growth, enabling them to access affordable capital and create sustainable, decent jobs for young Ugandans,” she said.
For participating entrepreneurs, the bootcamps provided practical business skills, operational guidance and growth plans.
Aminata Najjingo, founder of Amylia Fashions, said the programme gave her greater clarity, practical tools and valuable networks to support her business.
“I’m especially looking forward to putting my three-year growth plan into action, guided by the knowledge and insights gained throughout the programme,” she said.
Following the bootcamps, selected businesses will receive continued advisory and capacity- building support, including opportunities to access capital through catalytic matching grants.
They will also have access to talent matching grants that subsidise 50% of the wages of newly hired young people for up to six months.
