Kampala, Uganda | Julius Businge | Absa Bank Uganda and International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, have partnered to train over 300 Ugandan small and medium-sized enterprises to help them assess business risks, adapt their business models, and navigate the difficult operating environment caused by COVID-19 pandemic. …
Read More »High business collapse trailing Uganda’s economy
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Knowledge gaps and the high costs of doing business remain a major hindrance to Uganda’s economic growth as most business enterprises started in the country do not survive beyond their first birthday. Ronnie Mulongo, manager Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) says that some entrepreneurs lack …
Read More »COVID-19: African Union agency to support SMEs across the continent
Johannesburg, South Africa | XINHUA | The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) on Tuesday launched a program to help Africa’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to adapt business operations in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. AUDA-NEPAD, in partnership with Ecobank Group, launched the MSME Academy which will give …
Read More »SMEs must seize online opportunities to survive COVID-19
John Walugembe is the Executive Director for Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, an umbrella body for SMEs in Uganda. The Independent’s Julius Businge had an interview him on the impact of COVID-19 on SMEs. What major milestones has the federation recorded since its establishment? The Federation was established in …
Read More »How to boost cross-border financing solutions in Africa
Kampala, Uganda | Isaac Khisa | How can African countries boost cross-border financing solutions on the continent? This was the main issue discussed during the Pan-African e-conference hosted by the United Capital PLC, a Nigerian-based financial and investment Services Company, on Friday. Peter Ashade, the Group CEO at United Capital Plc. …
Read More »Bringing possibility to life during a crisis
Absa has reacted swiftly to the COVID-19 pandemic by designing, offering and implementing smart solutions and offering significant financial respite during these times. COMMENT | Vimal Kumar | When a crisis of the magnitude of Covid-19 strikes, it is our role as a responsible lender to put forward various immediate and …
Read More »Agriculturist calls for development arm to support young businesses
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Former Agriculture Minister Dr Victoria Ssekitoleko has called for a development arm in key government agencies responsible for skilling SMEs. Speaking during a post-budget e-conference held on Tuesday, Ssekitoleko said Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and Uganda Revenue …
Read More »Empowering SMEs key to increasing development
OPINION | Thomas Yieke | Prosperity should always be at the heart of any initiative geared towards driving economic growth and development. According to Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), SMEs are the engine of growth for economic development, innovation, and wealth creation in Uganda. The SMEs are spread across all sectors …
Read More »Coronavirus fight: SME body urges government to maintain strict measures
Kampala, Uganda | Julius Businge | The Federation of SMEs Uganda has urged the government to continue undertaking emergency measures to slow down the spread of the virus. The measures in question include; limiting people’s movements, conducting mass testing and rigorous tracing. In particular, through John Walugembe, the body said in …
Read More »Stanbic Bank reveals first fruits of business incubators
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Stanbic Bank Uganda has revealed the first fruits of its Business Incubator Programme, two years after its establishment to mentor Small and Medium Enterprises in the country. The three months long Business Development Programme places selected Small and Medium Enterprises under intensive training in …
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