The ministry of Trade has urged the private sector and local alcohol manufacturers to encourage informal producers to formalise their businesses in a move aimed at increasing the country’s tax revenue. The call follows concerns raised by Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL), one of the largest taxpayers, which says it continues to shoulder a heavy tax…
Uganda’s bancassurance industry continues to demonstrate remarkable momentum, with banks generating more than Shs 80.8 billion in insurance premiums during the first quarter of 2026 alone. According to the latest industry performance report, Equity Bank Uganda ranked fourth among the country’s 22 licensed bancassurance providers, generating Shs 6.69 billion in Gross Written Premiums (GWP) and…
Shumuk Aluminium Industries has pledged to create more jobs for young people across the East African Community (EAC) if non-tariff barriers are removed to allow the free movement of goods and services within the eight-member regional bloc. Andrew Nangai, the Personal Assistant to the company’s chairman, Mukesh Shukla, made the remarks in an interview with…
As Uganda begins implementing the budget for the financial year 2026/2027, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Finance, Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, has said the country’s economy is performing strongly, with faster economic growth, low inflation and a stable Ugandan shilling. Ggoobi, while launching the 2025 Open Budget Survey results, attributed the performance to the…
Maganjo Grain Millers, an agro-processing company based in Maganjo, Wakiso, has appealed to members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to enact laws that will expand market access for locally manufactured products across the East African region. The appeal was made during the 2026 East African Community (EAC) Parliamentary Week held at the Parliament….
Equity Group has partnered with AfricaNenda Foundation and the Gates Foundation to accelerate the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) across Africa in a move aimed at expanding financial inclusion, strengthening digital payment systems and supporting cross-border trade. The partnership was announced in Nairobi on July 7. The initiative will begin in Rwanda before expanding…
The World Bank has urged the government to carry out urgent land reforms to remove bottlenecks that continue to slow the country’s construction sector. The call was made during the launch of the World Bank’s Country Economic Update, which focused on Uganda’s construction industry. Speaking to Bbeg Media after the launch at the World Bank…
MORRISON RWAKAKAMBA Uganda wants to grow its economy to $500 billion by 2040. That ambition will only be achieved if the country has enough reliable and affordable electricity to power industries, agriculture, homes, transport and digital services. Uganda currently has more than 2,000 megawatts of installed electricity generation capacity, most of it from hydropower. However,…
When Osward Kakande watched his mother suffer from persistent coughs and headaches caused by smoke from traditional cooking stoves, he never imagined that her experience would inspire a business now valued at more than Shs450 million. Today, the founder and director of Mubende Stoves is one of Uganda’s emerging clean energy entrepreneurs. His company is…
Business leader Charles Mbire has urged Ugandans to make integrity and good character the foundation of their financial and business success, saying trust has become one of the most valuable assets in today’s economy. Mbire made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural SBG Securities Investor Day in Kampala. The event was…
Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the World Bank Group to accelerate the country’s economic transformation and improve the lives of its people. Speaking during the launch of the Country Partnership Framework and the Public Finance Review at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala, the minister of Finance, Henry Musasizi, said the government…
For many years, retirement savings have seemed beyond the reach of millions of Ugandans working in the informal sector. But that is beginning to change as the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) expands its SmartLife Flexi grassroots campaign, bringing social security services directly to communities across the country. The nationwide campaign is helping boda boda…
Uganda’s second school term is well underway, but many school administrators are still grappling with a familiar challenge: keeping schools running while waiting for parents to complete paying school fees. Schools must continue paying teachers’ salaries, buying food, purchasing learning materials and maintaining facilities, even when fee payments come in slowly. To help bridge this…
Equity Bank has renewed its partnership with KPMG and Nation Media Group (NMG) for the 2026 Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies Survey, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Uganda’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The survey, launched on Thursday at KPMG’s headquarters in Kampala, is now in its 19th year. It is being held under the theme,…
MTN Uganda chairman Charles Mbire will headline the inaugural SBG Securities Investor Day on Friday, June 26, as the investment firm seeks to encourage more Ugandans to participate in the country’s financial markets. The event will be streamed live on the Stanbic Uganda YouTube channel from 12:00 pm East African Time. The forum comes at…
When Polland Food Centre opened in 2025, the aroma of freshly prepared meals quickly attracted customers. Behind the scenes, however, the restaurant was grappling with a costly challenge. Traditional charcoal stoves were consuming large amounts of fuel, filling the kitchen with smoke and increasing operating expenses. Like many growing restaurants, Polland Food Centre faced rising…
As the world marks World Refugee Day, a growing number of displaced families in Uganda are moving beyond survival and building sustainable livelihoods through access to financial services. Observed annually on June 20, World Refugee Day serves as a reminder that behind every refugee statistic is a human story. It is the story of a…
Stakeholders in Uganda’s manufacturing sector have called for stronger collaboration, innovative financing solutions and increased investment in value addition to drive growth and improve the competitiveness of locally made products in regional markets. The call was made during Stanbic Bank Uganda’s inaugural Business Forum held in Kampala under the theme, “From Farm to Shelf: Financing…
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has announced plans to strengthen the use of digital systems in government procurement as part of efforts to reduce corruption and improve transparency. Speaking during a post-budget discussion on the Financial Year 2026/27 budget, PPDA executive director Benson Turamye said the authority is moving away…
Equity Bank Uganda has been named Corporate Business of the Year at the African Business Chamber (AfBC) African Business Awards 2026, in recognition of its contribution to financial inclusion, diaspora banking, cross-border trade, and investment facilitation across Africa. The award was presented during a gala dinner held on May 29, 2026, at the Royal Lancaster…
As schools across Uganda reopen for a new term, excitement has returned to classrooms, playgrounds and staffrooms. Behind the scenes, however, school administrators and parents are grappling with a familiar challenge: finding enough money to meet education-related expenses at the start of the academic term. For many schools, the beginning of a term is one…
Corporate leaders and policy experts have urged Ugandan businesses to begin preparing for mandatory Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting requirements that will take effect for financial institutions in January 2027. The call was made during the second annual East Africa ESG Summit hosted by Capital One Group (COG) on June 11, 2026. Held virtually…
Equity Bank Uganda has supported the expansion of a tree nursery business in Lira City through a solar-powered irrigation project that has boosted production and promoted climate-resilient farming in northern Uganda. In Boroboro parish, Gwengbar area, Dopla tree nurseries has grown from a small backyard operation into a major supplier of tree seedlings, following the…
For years, Jian Namuhenge spent nearly Shs 80,000 every month on charcoal. Like millions of Ugandans, she relied on a traditional charcoal stove for daily cooking, unaware that a more efficient and affordable alternative existed. Today, the same sack of charcoal lasts her almost three months. The change did not come from earning more money…
One of the standout moments at the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited (SUHL) was the recognition of outgoing chief executive Francis Karuhanga. The AGM, held at Serena Hotel Kampala, had gathered shareholders to review another year of strong financial performance. However, attention also turned to Karuhanga, who is preparing to…
Uganda has been ranked among the world’s top 25 destinations for outsourcing services, a major milestone for the country’s growing digital economy. According to the 2026 Global Outsourcing Talent Index, Uganda ranks 24th out of 193 countries assessed worldwide. The ranking places Uganda in the top 13% globally, second in the East African Community behind…
Stakeholders in Uganda’s mining sector have called on the government to establish an independent body known as the Mining Authority of Uganda, saying it would strengthen regulation and accelerate the industry’s growth. The call was made during a stakeholders’ meeting of artisanal and small-scale miners held in Kampala. Speaking at the meeting, Humphrey Asiimwe, the…
A new digital learning hub has been opened at Katwe Noor Secondary School in Kampala to improve access to technology, internet connectivity and digital skills for students and surrounding communities. The facility was established through a partnership between American Tower Corporation (ATC) Uganda, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Stanbic Bank Uganda, the Stanbic Kenya Foundation…
Equity Bank Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing financial inclusion by strengthening support for Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), micro-businesses and grassroots entrepreneurs through tailored financing, financial literacy programmes and sustainability-focused products. Speaking at the Uganda Central Co-operative Financial Services Ltd (UCCFS) annual general assembly held at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi, bank…
For many university students in Uganda, higher education comes with financial uncertainty, academic pressure, and growing anxiety about finding employment after graduation. For Shimon Atuyambe, however, one opportunity changed the course of her life. What started as an academic achievement evolved into a life-changing journey through the Equity Leaders Program (ELP), transforming her from a…
For many young Ugandans, success begins as a distant dream shaped by ambition but often limited by circumstance. For Reagan Tumusiime Gibril, that dream started in the crowded slums of Kibuli and has steadily grown through determination, hard work, and an opportunity offered by Equity Bank Uganda. Tumusiime, a student of God Cares High…
By Catherine Psomgen For decades, corporate social responsibility (CSR) across Africa has largely revolved around donations, charity drives, and short-term community interventions. While these initiatives remain important, they often fall short of creating lasting, systemic change. Increasingly, the future of impactful corporate responsibility lies in sustainable investments that develop people, strengthen institutions, and shape future…
Equity Bank Uganda has strengthened its reputation in diaspora banking and cross-border remittances after winning three major accolades at the AIDO Network Pan-African Impact Awards. At the awards ceremony held on Saturday, May 23, at Speke Resort Munyonyo during Africa Liberation Week celebrations, the bank was recognised for excellence in cross-border remittances, diaspora banking solutions,…
Centenary Rural Development Group Limited and Huawei Technologies Uganda have signed a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating digital transformation and expanding financial inclusion in Uganda and across Africa. The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Shanghai, China, is expected to modernise Centenary Group’s banking systems, strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure and improve access to…
Stakeholders in Uganda’s agriculture sector have called for stronger collaboration among financial institutions, regulators, manufacturers, and farmers to combat counterfeit agricultural inputs and strengthen food security across Sub-Saharan Africa. The call was made during the second edition of the CropLife Uganda Symposium held at Sheraton Kampala Hotel under the theme, “Emerging trends in seeds, crop…
For many young Ugandans, education is more than the pursuit of academic success. It is a pathway to opportunity, leadership and transformation. For Fatmah Yusuf Gram, a young scholar from Fort Portal, that pathway became clearer through the Equity Leaders Program (ELP), a flagship initiative under Equity Group Foundation that is nurturing a new generation…
Equity Group Holdings has reported a 24% rise in profit after tax to KSh19.1bn (Shs 556.4bn) in the first quarter of 2026, as its regional subsidiaries outside Kenya reached a landmark threshold, contributing half of the group’s total banking profit for the first time. The Nairobi-listed lender, which operates across six African countries, said its…
Families turned up today in large numbers at the UMA Show Grounds on Friday as Kiara Events opened the 2026 edition of the Baby & Kids Expo EA with a renewed focus on early learning, creativity, and mental wellness for children. The two-day event, which started on May 16 and ends on May 17, is…
Uganda’s telecommunications industry is set for one of its biggest disruptions in years following the official entry of Starlink into the country’s internet market, a move expected to increase competition, expand connectivity and place pressure on traditional telecom operators to improve services and reduce prices. The satellite internet provider received its operational licence after a…
Airtel Africa has reported record financial results for the financial year 2026, driven by strong growth in data consumption, mobile money services, and smartphone adoption across its African markets. The telecommunications giant posted constant-currency revenue growth of 24.0%, the highest in its history, while reported revenue rose by 29.5% to $6.415 billion from $4.955 billion…
Equity Bank Uganda has commissioned 100 students into the fifth cohort of the Equity Leaders Program (ELP), bringing the total number of scholars enrolled since the programme started in Uganda to 512. The commissioning ceremony, held in Kampala on Friday, also marked the graduation of 81 scholars from the pioneer 2022 cohort who have completed…
The 100 young leaders participating in the Equity Leaders Programme at Africa Bible University in Lubowa have been challenged to embrace discipline, integrity and purposeful leadership during intensive leadership and career development sessions led by senior executives and industry experts. The programme brought together speakers from banking, marketing, finance and risk management, each offering practical…
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) says its grievance redress mechanism is helping to build trust with host communities as Uganda moves closer to first oil. Speaking at the Annual Oil and Gas Convention, company officials said more than 2,200 grievances have been registered and addressed, which they described as evidence of growing confidence…
One hundred of Uganda’s highest-achieving secondary school students have been formally inducted into the Equity Leaders Programme (ELP), a flagship initiative of Equity Group Foundation aimed at cultivating transformative leadership across Africa. The induction ceremony took place on Monday at Africa Bible University in Lubowa, Kampala, marking the start of a new cohort’s journey through…
Joselynne Rwabwogo Rwakakooko, who has been appointed acting managing director of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), is the daughter of Elly Rwakakooko, who served as commissioner-general of Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) from 1997 to 2000. Elly is also a cousin to first lady Janet Museveni and now lives in Ruhama, Ntungamo, where he…
Traders at Bugolobi Market in Kampala have raised concerns over the rising cost of fuel, saying it has significantly increased transport expenses and forced them to hike prices of essential goods. The vendors, including food sellers, banana dealers, butchers, fruit traders and boda boda cyclists, spoke to Bbeg Media during Labour Day commemorations at the…
Equity Bank has been named Overall Best Bank in Kenya at the Think Business Banking Awards, underlining its continued influence in the country’s financial sector. The awards ceremony, held in Nairobi, brought together industry leaders to recognise excellence in performance, innovation and financial stability. The 2026 event was held under the theme of building strong,…
Equity Group Holdings is set to separate its fast-growing digital business into a new independent company, in a move aimed at sharpening its focus on technology and improving efficiency across its operations. The planned firm, expected to be rolled out in the second half of 2026, will bring together all fintech products currently run under…
Surging coffee consumption in China is driving a sharp increase in Uganda’s coffee exports to the Asian market, Chinese officials have said. Fan Xuecheng, charge d’affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, told the meeting, which was also attended by a delegation of Chinese investors, that a growing number of Chinese companies operating…
John Walugembe, the executive director of the Federation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (FSME), has called for a structured dialogue to resolve tensions following the suspension of roadside vendor evictions. Walugembe said a multi-stakeholder committee should be established to bring together key actors and affected traders to find a lasting solution. “We need a committee…
