Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited (SUHL), through its banking subsidiary and the Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL), has launched two programmes aimed at expanding access to affordable financing, business development services and digital financial solutions for more than 10,000 low-income women entrepreneurs and 100 horticulture farmers in Northern Uganda.
The initiatives—the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Programme, supported by the Gates Foundation, and the Albertine Agribusiness Development Programme (ADP), funded by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)—form part of Stanbic's Women, Youth and Farmers (WYF) Agenda, which seeks to improve financial inclusion and enterprise development.
Under the initiative, Stanbic Bank has pledged to mobilise up to UGX 1 trillion by 2028 through strategic partnerships to support livelihoods, expand access to finance and contribute to Uganda's economic transformation.
The programmes are aligned with the government's Agro-industrialisation, Tourism, Minerals and Science, Technology and Innovation (ATMS) strategy, which aims to grow Uganda's economy from US$50 billion to US$500 billion by 2040 by increasing productivity, strengthening value chains and expanding participation in the formal economy.
Speaking at the launch in Gulu City, Catherine Poran, Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic Business Incubator Limited, said the programmes are designed to address barriers that continue to limit the growth of women-owned businesses and smallholder farming.
She said the Women Economic Empowerment Programme offers entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, digital skills, mentorship, insurance, savings products and market linkages to help women build sustainable businesses and improve household incomes.
The agribusiness programme, she added, will equip horticulture farmers with modern farming techniques while connecting them to structured markets.
"When farmers are linked to markets, they secure better prices for their produce. Many farmers grow products, but the challenge is accessing markets. Through this programme, we are working with off-takers who are ready to buy their produce," Poran said.
She noted that many women entrepreneurs are unable to access formal credit because they lack collateral and established credit histories, adding that the programme will help participants build financial records and improve their eligibility for financing.
Poran said each participating farmer is expected to transfer the acquired knowledge to at least 15 other farmers, creating a multiplier effect that will strengthen agricultural productivity and value chains.
"Alongside capacity building, this programme will enable farmers to access formal financial services, which many smallholder farmers currently struggle to obtain. We are optimistic that this initiative will significantly improve their livelihoods," she added.
She said the programmes are also intended to complement government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) by promoting enterprise formalisation, productivity and market access.
Launching the initiative at Mayor's Gardens in Gulu City, Resident City Commissioner Ambrose Onoria urged beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity.
"With this programme offering financing at a 10% interest rate, no one should accept being poor or left behind," Onoria said.
Jessica Kyeyune, National Content Specialist at UNOC, said business management skills are equally important for entrepreneurs seeking to grow sustainable enterprises.
"Sometimes people spend everything they earn without distinguishing between profit and cash flow. Learning these skills enables them to understand whether their businesses are growing or simply consuming resources," she said.
Kyeyune added that the ADP will also train farmers on reducing post-harvest losses and facilitate access to export markets, noting that some farmers trained under similar programmes in Hoima have already secured buyers.
Gulu City Mayor Julius Labeja Acire said the initiative could help reduce dependence on informal money lenders who often charge exploitative interest rates.
"This programme provides structured financing while equipping beneficiaries with business skills. It is not only about access to finance but also about ensuring that women have the knowledge needed to manage and grow their enterprises," Acire said.
He added that the city authorities are decentralising support structures to strengthen women's groups, improve coordination and help identify viable business opportunities through partnerships with Stanbic Bank, the Gates Foundation and UNOC.
