Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited (SUHL), through Stanbic Bank Uganda and the Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL), has launched a landmark initiative aimed at empowering more than 10,000 low-income women entrepreneurs and 100 horticulture farmers in Northern Uganda with affordable financing, business development support, and digital financial services.
The initiative brings together the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Programme, supported by the Gates Foundation, and the Albertine Agribusiness Development Programme (ADP), funded by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC). Both programmes form part of Stanbic’s Positive Impact Agenda for Women, Youth and Farmers (WYF Agenda).
Under the WYF Agenda, Stanbic Bank has committed to mobilize up to UGX 1 trillion through strategic partnerships by 2028 to improve livelihoods and accelerate Uganda’s transition to a more productive, inclusive, and competitive economy.
The agenda is aligned with the Government’s ATMS strategy, which seeks to grow Uganda’s economy tenfold—from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040—through increased enterprise productivity, stronger agro-industrial value chains, and greater participation in the money economy.
Speaking at the launch in Gulu, Catherine Poran, Chief Executive of the Stanbic Business Incubator Limited, said the programmes demonstrate Stanbic’s commitment to driving Uganda’s economic transformation.
“This is what we mean when we say our purpose is to drive Uganda’s growth,” she said.
Poran explained that the WEE Programme offers entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, digital skills, mentorship, insurance, savings solutions, and market linkages to help women build sustainable businesses and improve household incomes. The ADP complements these efforts by equipping farmers with modern agronomic skills while connecting them to reliable markets.
She noted that many women remain excluded from formal credit because they lack collateral and encouraged beneficiaries to use the programme to build their credit history through its technical and financial support platforms.
“When farmers are linked to markets, they secure better prices for their produce. Many farmers grow products, but the challenge is accessing markets. Through this programme, we are working with off-takers who are ready to buy these products,” Poran said.
She added that each participating farmer is expected to transfer knowledge to at least 15 other farmers, creating a multiplier effect that will boost agricultural productivity and strengthen value chains across the region.
“Alongside capacity building, this programme will enable farmers to access formal financial services, which many smallholder farmers currently struggle to obtain. We are optimistic that this initiative will significantly improve their livelihoods,” she added.
Poran reaffirmed Stanbic’s commitment to integrating women entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers into the formal economy while complementing government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and advancing the priorities of the ATMS strategy.
Launching the programme at Mayor’s Gardens in Gulu City, Resident City Commissioner Ambrose Onoria urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity.
“With this programme offering financing at a 10 percent interest rate, no one should accept being poor or left behind,” he said.
Jessica Kyeyune, National Content Specialist at UNOC, underscored the importance of financial and business management skills for women entrepreneurs.
“Sometimes people spend everything they earn without distinguishing between profit and cash flow. Learning these skills helps them understand whether their business is growing or simply consuming resources,” she said.
Kyeyune added that the ADP will train farmers in post-harvest handling and connect them to export markets, noting that farmers who participated in the programme in Hoima have already secured buyers.
Gulu City Mayor Labeja Julius Acire welcomed the initiative, saying it would help protect women from exploitative money lenders while providing them with structured financing and practical business skills.
“This programme provides structured financing and helps combat unscrupulous loan sharks who have been giving our women a tough time. It is not only about finance; it also includes training, which is essential,” he said.
Acire said the City Council is decentralizing support structures to ensure women’s groups receive training, work together effectively, and identify viable income-generating enterprises.
“We are committed to partnering with Stanbic Bank, the Gates Foundation, and UNOC to ensure everyone understands their responsibilities. When programmes are well coordinated, the margin for error is greatly reduced,” he said.
