Kampala,Uganda– Absa Bank Uganda has officially relaunched its flagship Absa Business Club, positioning it as a transformative platform tailored to the real needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The relaunch, which took place at the Sheraton Hotel, is a strategic reimagination focused on market access, knowledge sharing, networking, and growth-enabling financial services.
Speaking at the event, David Wandera, Managing Director of Absa Bank Uganda, highlighted the evolution of the SME landscape since the Club’s original launch in 2004.
“Today’s relaunch is not just a refresh, but a reimagination built around the real needs of our businesses,” said Wandera.
“SMEs comprise about 90% of Uganda’s private sector and contribute more than 80% of GDP. Yet they face challenges ranging from accessing finance to entering new markets. We have listened, and the answer is a revamped Business Club,” he added.
At the heart of this new model is partnership. Absa has teamed up with players like Uganda Airlines, DHL, Enterprise Uganda, Grant Portals, and Prudential to create what Wandera calls a “360-degree ecosystem”—a mix of tools, knowledge, and opportunities that SMEs need to thrive.
“The Club is not just about banking. It’s about building businesses that will grow and last. It’s about opening up Uganda to the world,” Wandera remarked.
Moses Rutagira, Director of Retail and Business Banking at Absa Uganda, outlined the four key pillars of the revamped Absa Business Club, namely:
Access to Markets – through regional and international trade missions, with upcoming trips to South Africa and the UK, and future opportunities in China, the US, Turkey, and the UAE;
Knowledge and Capacity Building – via SME clinics across eight cities and a Business Accelerator Program focused on high-growth enterprises;
Networking and Growth – through peer-to-peer forums, exhibitions, and international learning journeys;
Financial and Non-Financial Services – offering members, for a monthly fee of UGX 40,000, benefits such as preferential loan rates, free checkbooks, international transfers, and free insurance covering death, disability, and critical illness.
“This is not your traditional banking program—it’s an ecosystem that empowers SMEs with knowledge, financing, and networks to scale their businesses,” Rutagira remarked.
Beyond the numbers, the Absa Business Club is designed to help entrepreneurs build legacies, not just businesses.
“At Absa, your business story matters. This club is about creating that story with you—not just profit, but purpose and impact,” he added.
