Mbale City came alive with entrepreneurial energy on Tuesday, 19th August, as Equity Bank Uganda brought its nationwide TUPANGE Business Ne Equity Forum to the Eastern region. Following a successful launch in Kampala a week earlier, the forum made its first regional stop under the theme “Financing Integrated Value Chains and SME Growth.”
More than 500 small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, innovators, and aspiring business leaders gathered to explore new opportunities, share experiences, and learn how to position their enterprises for sustainable growth. The atmosphere was charged with optimism, collaboration, and determination.
Stories that Sparked Inspiration
One of the most compelling voices of the day was Mr. Saleh Naminya, Managing Director of Casa Uganda Safaris & Lodges. Once a classroom teacher, Naminya narrated his remarkable shift into the tourism industry, building one of Uganda’s leading safari and hospitality brands.
“I started small, but with determination and collaboration, Casa Uganda thrives today,” he told the crowd. He illustrated how his lodges rely on local farmers for fresh coffee, artisans for furniture, and transporters for smooth guest experiences. “No business stands alone,” he emphasised, pointing to the role of value chain financing in reducing risk and strengthening trust.
He recalled how a local supplier fulfilled a 50-tonne coffee order thanks to timely credit from Equity Bank. “Accessible financing turns opportunities into reality,” Naminya added, underscoring the power of strategic partnerships.
Equity Bank’s Pledge to SMEs
Claver Serumaga, Executive Director of Commercial Banking at Equity Bank Uganda, welcomed participants and reaffirmed the bank’s mission to drive inclusive prosperity.
“SMEs are the engine of Uganda’s economy, creating seven out of every ten jobs globally,” he noted. Serumaga outlined Equity’s support framework, including unsecured supplier financing worth UGX 1.5–3 billion, digital platforms like Equity Online that integrate with business systems, and invoice financing to ease cash flow challenges.
Acknowledging customer concerns, he promised enhanced service delivery through staff retraining and strongly urged SMEs to reject bribery: “Banking must remain transparent and respectful.”
Practical Lessons for Growth
Over the course of the forum, eight key lessons emerged, shared by speakers including Ms. Olivia Mugaba, Head of SME at Equity Bank, Mr. Odoki Richard, Lecturer at Uganda Martyrs University, and Mr. Natalisile James from the Ministry of Trade and Agriculture.
They encouraged SMEs to:
Scale with tailored financial and technical support.
Harness digital tools like mobile banking to reach international clients.
Embrace tax compliance to access government incentives.
“If you’re not registered, you’re invisible to opportunity,” one speaker cautioned, stressing the importance of formalising operations.
The forum also highlighted Uganda’s SME reality: 53% of enterprises fail, largely due to limited working capital and market access. Yet Equity showcased solutions, citing a client who expanded from a 20 million to a 100 million shilling credit line by collaborating with anchor clients such as Coca-Cola.
“We don’t just finance businesses; we walk the journey with you,” Serumaga said, inviting participants to join value chain ecosystems that foster collective growth.
Building Stronger Ecosystems
Saleh Naminya echoed that sentiment, urging fellow entrepreneurs to view themselves as part of a broader business web: “My lodges need quality produce, reliable transport, and effective marketing. None of us can grow alone.”
He also stressed the need for global market access, pointing to Equity’s Trade and Investment Tours, which connect Ugandan SMEs to international fairs. The panel further called for relationship-based lending—patient capital that matches business cycles—alongside digital solutions to streamline operations.
A Movement Taking Root
As the sun set on Mbale, entrepreneurs left energised, armed with new knowledge and a renewed belief in possibility. The forum was more than a conversation; it was a movement—one that aims to transform Uganda’s business landscape.
The Mbale edition was just the beginning of the regional tour. The TUPANGE Business Ne Equity Forum will next head to Arua on Thursday, 21st August, followed by Fort Portal on 2nd September and Hoima on 9th September. Equity Bank has pledged to support over 1,000 SMEs by year-end, making this initiative a cornerstone of Uganda’s economic transformation journey.
“When SMEs thrive, the nation prospers,” Serumaga declared—and in Mbale, that future felt closer than ever.
