Pearl Bank, in partnership with Ronalds in Africa, has concluded a three-day bootcamp aimed at equipping farmers and Agri-SMEs with the knowledge and skills needed to access available financing opportunities and scale their businesses.
The technical assistance training, which brought together more than 30 agri-businesses from across the country, concluded on Friday at Skyz Hotel in Naguru.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Pearl Bank’s Regional Head for Greater Kampala, Martin Lukyamuzi, said agriculture remains one of the key pillars of the government’s ATMS strategy—Agro-industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral Development, and Science, Technology and Innovation.
“Agriculture continues to play a key role in the growth of our economy. The sector employs more than 70 percent of our population, either directly or indirectly, and forms part of the ATMS strategy, which is a key driver of the government’s tenfold growth agenda to expand Uganda’s economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040,” Lukyamuzi said.
He noted that the three-day bootcamp had provided technical assistance to over 30 Agri-SMEs, equipping them with practical skills to strengthen their businesses.
“Through this bootcamp, which we conducted together with Ronalds in Africa, we are confident that with the right financing and the implementation of the knowledge gained, these agri-entrepreneurs will make a tangible impact while complementing the government’s efforts to grow the economy to USD 500 billion by 2040,” he added.
During the training, Ronalds in Africa provided technical assistance in business growth, governance, systems development, investment readiness, and strategies for securing larger financing facilities from funders.
GRO Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Laban Musinguzi, said Uganda is positioning itself to tap into the global market but stressed that success depends on understanding target markets and producing goods that meet market demand.
He encouraged farmers to expand their operations by adding value to their produce, enabling them to seize existing local and regional export opportunities and grow sustainable agri-businesses.
Managing Director of Machame Farm, Upendo Malikia, shared the farm’s growth journey, revealing that the business had expanded from 40 acres to 1,300 acres through mechanisation, operational efficiency, strategic supplier partnerships, proper record-keeping, and access to Pearl Bank’s Large Scale Financing Facility.
She said these investments had not only transformed the business but also created employment opportunities and improved the socio-economic wellbeing of communities in Nwoya District.
“We remain committed to designing accessible products and services that not only enable participation in critical sectors such as agriculture but also create positive outcomes, including employment, financial inclusion, food security, and expanded trade opportunities within Uganda and across the region. These efforts will contribute to Uganda’s socio-economic development,” Lukyamuzi said.
