MARU Credit and Enterprise Uganda have finished a three-day training program designed to teach small business owners how to keep their doors open longer and grow their profits.
The three day intensive training, delivered in partnership with Enterprise Uganda, brought together entrepreneurs from diverse sectors for practical sessions on financial management, governance, credit readiness, taxation, customer retention, and human resource management.
SMEs remain the backbone of Uganda’s economy, accounting for approximately 90 percent of the private sector according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. However, many businesses continue to face challenges related to record keeping, access to finance, and long term sustainability. The incubator was designed to address these structural gaps by equipping entrepreneurs with practical tools to build resilient and bankable enterprises.
Speaking at the closing session, Mr. Joshua Mazune, the Managing Director of MARU Credit, noted that the primary hurdle for local entrepreneurs is not a lack of vision, but a lack of organisational structure.
"Growth isn’t accidental. It is built on systems, governance, and financial clarity. When entrepreneurs understand their numbers, structure their operations properly, and lead with discipline, they unlock real and sustainable expansion," Mr. Mazune said.
He added that the incubator represents a deliberate shift from simply lending capital to cultivating financially disciplined, investment-ready entrepreneurs who can scale and compete in the evolving economy.
Mr. Ronald Mukasa, the Chief Operating Officer of Enterprise Uganda, emphasised that while Ugandan innovators are resilient, that resilience must be matched with capability.
"When businesses adopt proper governance, maintain accurate records, and plan strategically, they significantly increase their chances of survival and growth," Mr. Mukasa noted.
MARU Credit Concludes Inaugural SME Incubator Program with Strong Call for Structured Business Growth
For many participants, the program provided an opportunity to rectify operational mistakes. Ms. Peace Kwagala, an entrepreneur in the cohort, admitted that she had previously struggled with financial record-keeping.
"I gained foundational knowledge in financial record keeping that will help me run my business more confidently and transparently," she said.
Another participant, Ms. Anita Mugisha, emphasized the need for digital visibility in a competitive market, noting that "out of sight is out of mind" for modern customers.
The curriculum covered essential pillars including leadership, tax compliance, customer retention, and human resource management. MARU Credit officials confirmed that the successful completion of the first cohort marks the beginning of a recurring platform for SME empowerment, with plans for the next intake to be announced soon.
