Uganda has secured a place among the beneficiaries of the 2026 Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme, with 12 entrepreneurs named in the first group of winners.
The announcement was made at an event in Abuja, Nigeria, where 1,951 entrepreneurs were unveiled as part of a larger group of 3,200 Africans set to receive support this year. The beneficiaries were selected from more than 260,000 applications submitted across 54 countries, highlighting the programme’s competitiveness.
TEF says the 2026 beneficiaries will be released in phases to ensure wider reach and impact across sectors. The first group includes 1,951 entrepreneurs, while upcoming batches will feature 100 participants under the Waste Management Programme, 100 under Rwanda’s Aguka Programme, and 1,049 women entrepreneurs under the Women for Africa initiative. More Ugandans are expected to appear in the later groups.
Each successful applicant will receive a USD 5,000 (about Shs19 million) non-refundable seed grant, along with business training, mentorship, and access to a continent-wide network aimed at helping businesses grow and create jobs.
Although Uganda’s presence in the programme reflects ongoing participation in Africa’s entrepreneurship space, it also points to the need for stronger competition in future application rounds.
Women make up 51 per cent of this year’s selected entrepreneurs, slightly higher than men at 49 per cent, underlining TEF’s focus on gender inclusion.
Speaking at the launch, TEF founder Tony Elumelu said entrepreneurship remains key to transforming Africa’s economies and tackling youth unemployment, calling for a supportive environment to help businesses thrive.
Co-founder Awele Vivian Elumelu urged applicants who were not selected to stay persistent and reapply in future cycles.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is one of Africa’s leading initiatives supporting small businesses through funding, training, and mentorship. Applications for the next intake are open until the end of March 2026.
