NETA Uganda has equipped young entrepreneurs with financial literacy skills, business networking opportunities and knowledge on how to access new markets and grow their enterprises.
The skills were imparted during a one-day youth entrepreneurs’ conference held at the Motive Entrepreneurs Training Facility along Port Bell Road in Kampala.
The symposium brought together dozens of young entrepreneurs who benefited from practical presentations on business development, taxation, access to finance and market opportunities.
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) made a presentation on taxation policies and tax holiday concessions, providing participants with information on their obligations and incentives available to businesses.
Beatrice Kyosiga, who heads the SMEs Special Programmes Unit for Youth and Women at Uganda Development Bank (UDB), said the bank has several youth-oriented financing packages targeting sectors including tourism and hospitality, agriculture, ICT, energy, oil and gas, healthcare, the creative industry and education.
She said young people can benefit from the financing if their projects meet the bank’s eligibility requirements.
Muteesi Doreen, a Sales Supervisor at Centenary Bank’s Makerere University branch, said the bank offers youth-friendly loan packages ranging from Shs100,000 to Shs2 million.
She said the loans are available to young people aged between 18 and 35 and can have a grace period of up to one year without requiring security.
Doreen described Centenary Bank as an indigenous financial services provider offering affordable interest rates to different categories of clients.
Florence Kolubaro of Equity Bank and UDB’s Kyosiga also highlighted financial products available to entrepreneurs and students across several East African Community countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), in its presentation, cautioned young entrepreneurs against lifestyles that could expose them to HIV, warning that ill health can undermine their business ambitions and future prosperity.
Meanwhile, Birungi Israel, Business Development Manager at Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, thanked NETA Uganda for giving exhibitors an opportunity to showcase their products and services while interacting with young entrepreneurs.
He said the hospital provides modern, digital and comprehensive eye-care services, including cataract surgery, vitreoretinal surgery, corneal transplants, paediatric ophthalmology and other specialised eye-care services.
Birungi said the hospital has conducted more than 3,000 cataract surgeries, 6,000 corneal transplants and over 11,000 vitreoretinal-related procedures, among other treatments.
He said the hospital was proud to participate in the conference and introduce its services to young entrepreneurs.
NETA Uganda President Dr. Thadeus Musoke Nagenda thanked the participants, partners, sponsors and exhibitors for supporting the organisation’s maiden youth entrepreneurs’ conference.
He specifically appreciated companies and institutions, including Movit Products and Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, for contributing to the success of the event.
Nagenda said the symposium was aimed at giving young entrepreneurs practical knowledge, access to business networks and opportunities to connect with institutions that can support their enterprises.
