In Luweero District, mobile phones have long been central to daily business operations—connecting customers, facilitating payments, and keeping enterprises running. However, for many small business owners, the devices have largely remained tools for transactions rather than instruments for business growth.
A new initiative by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), in collaboration with Outbox Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation, is aiming to change that through a campaign dubbed “Business Ku Ssimu Yo.”
The campaign is part of the broader 10X Programme, which seeks to accelerate the growth of youth-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by leveraging opportunities within the digital economy. The programme supports young entrepreneurs to improve efficiency, access wider markets, and unlock financing through digital platforms.
It primarily targets financially disadvantaged young women—including refugees and persons with disabilities—across sectors such as trade and services, agriculture, technology, tourism, light manufacturing, and fashion. The initiative aims to reach 61,000 young women, with at least 34,000 expected to secure new, improved, or sustained employment opportunities by 2027.
At the core of the campaign is a shift in how mobile phones are perceived in business. Rather than being used solely for sending and receiving money, phones are being repositioned as comprehensive business tools capable of serving as virtual shops, record-keeping systems, and gateways to financial services.
While many entrepreneurs in Luweero already rely on mobile money platforms, usage often stops at completing transactions. Limited attention is given to how transaction data can be used to track performance, build financial records, and support long-term business growth.
Through the 10X Programme, UNCDF and its partners are working directly with entrepreneurs to encourage a more intentional use of mobile phones. This includes promoting practices such as separating personal and business transactions, consistently using mobile money for business operations, and maintaining transaction histories by avoiding immediate cash withdrawals.
Such practices are becoming increasingly significant as financial institutions adopt data-driven lending models. Digital transaction histories and mobile money activity are emerging as key factors in assessing creditworthiness, particularly for small businesses that lack traditional collateral.
As Uganda’s digital economy continues to expand, the initiative is reinforcing a broader shift—encouraging entrepreneurs to view their mobile phones not just as payment tools, but as critical business infrastructure that supports growth, record-keeping, and access to finance.