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Publications

Our publications include green sector and portfolio insights, case studies, and impact insights.

UGEFA Case Study: Developments in Business Development Services (BDS) in Uganda

From 2020 to 2024, Uganda saw a notable rise in tailored Business Development Services (BDS) for green small and medium enterprises (SMEs), thanks to efforts by programmes like UGEFA. UGEFA alone trained over 52 BDS providers and supported 206 green SMEs across all regions, helping to raise awareness and build capacity for environmentally focused businesses. 

UGEFA Case Study: Green Finance Developments in Uganda

From 2020 to 2024, Uganda has seen encouraging progress in green finance, with commercial banks, international development finance institutions, and the government stepping up their support for eco-friendly enterprises. Training efforts like the UGEFA Green Finance Academy have helped banks better understand green business models, while select institutions have begun piloting innovative collateral options.

Business Advisory Impact in Uganda

Business advisors can help guiding green SMEs through the unique challanges that they face. UGEFA is equipping business advisors with the tools to support entrepreneurs, increase access to green finance, and create lasting environmental and social change.

Post-Investment Enterprise Journey - UGEFA SME Stories

UGEFA’s post-investment support ensures that green enterprises receive the guidance, training, and tools needed to maximise growth and impact after they secure investment. The enterprises can scale up and take the next steps after the initial investment to achieve sustainable success.

Improved Access to Finance for Green Enterprises - UGEFA SME Stories

Through the UGEFA programme, green entrepreneurs receive essential training on financial management, investor readiness, and impact storytelling, helping them access funding, scale their businesses, and drive environmental and social change.

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Uganda - UGEFA SME Stories

UGEFA supports female-led enterprises in Uganda through their inspiring journeys, as they are driving change in Uganda. Through the UGEFA programme, Farm Reap, Solar Nation, and Kimuli Collections received critical financial training, business development support, and access to a strong entrepreneurial network.

Princo Group Uganda Ltd - UGEFA SME Stories

Princo Group Ugand Ltd supports over 15,000 farmers across Uganda. Through training, technical assistance, and sustainable agriculture practices, Princo is helping farmers improve productivity, access better markets, and adopt organic farming methods.

SunBox Solar - UGEFA SME Stories

SunBox Solar is a Ugandan company focused on innovating with solar technology to provide sustainable energy solutions for homes, businesses, and communities. By integrating batteries, inverters, and controllers into a single system, SunBox makes solar energy more efficient, reliable, and accessible.

Greening the Ugandan Finance Ecosystem through SME Investments

UGEFA has made significant strides in addressing the critical financing needs of green small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda since its inception in 2020. 

During the implementation of UGEFA, 206 enterprises received capacity building for accessing (debt) finance. As of October 2024, 100 loans have been facilitated through UGEFA, with a total amount of funding of 7.9 million EUR raised by UGEFA-supported enterprises through UGEFA Partner Financial Institutions (PFIs).

UGEFA Business Advisors Green Portfolio

We train BDS Advisors to strengthen their capacities to provide next-level support to green enterprises. 

Selected BDS experts implement UGEFA Workshops to support green enterprises develop and strengthen their business plans, and to support them access finance and manage their loans. UGEFA has built a network of BDS experts in Uganda.

Jobs in the Waste Management Sector

This infographic presents a closer look at the value chain of the waste management sector enterprises on the example of Just Clean It and Marula Proteen.

This Infographic Case Study visualises all the key value chain elements and steps alongside additional information about Just Clean It and Marula Proteen, such as future outlooks, challanges, job benefits and quotes from the entrepreneurs.

Jobs in the Green Manufacturing Sector

This infographic presents a closer look at the value chain of the green manufacturing sector enterprises on the example of Carico Connoisseur, Amagara Skin Care, and Wimrob Bees.

This Infographic Case Study visualises all the key value chain elements and steps alongside additional information about Carico Connoisseur, Amagara, and Wimrob Bees, such as future outlooks, challanges, job benefits and quotes from the entrepreneurs.

Green Enterprise Portfolio

We envision a sustainable transition to a green economy driven by SMEs that work together with financial institutions to build and scale innovative products and services, and create jobs in green sectors.

Our approach combines capacity building of post-revenue, scalable green enterprises and collaboration with financial institutions to facilitate access to tailored missing middle finance and catalyse climate finance.

KaCyber - UGEFA SME Stories

KaCyber Technologies is a Ugandan transportation technology startup on a mission to make sustainable and seamless mobility a reality in Africa. The company aims to create an effective, inclusive and green mobility industry by leveraging technology and sustainable practices to provide digital ticketing and payment systems for the public transport operators sector.

Kimuli Collections - UGEFA SME Stories

Kimuli Collections Ltd is a Ugandan inclusive eco-fashion label that transforms the plastic waste crisis in Africa into sustainable products, creating employment opportunities for the people living with disabilities as creative tailors and youths as waste collectors with an intention of curbing the waste crisis and changing the dumping behaviour in Africa.

Sustainable Tourism

Tourism increasingly plays a central role in Uganda’s economy. In Uganda, the sector is dominated by SMEs and family-owned businesses. These SMEs offer popular tourism services, including safaris, birdwatching, tours of cultural sites, handicrafts and more.

As Uganda moves forward in advancing a resilient, inclusive and green economy, sustainable tourism SMEs will play a central role. The tourism sector offers opportunities to generate income and jobs while protecting Uganda’s vast wildlife and biodiversity, and strengthening cultural heritage.