PSFU Onboards Financial Institutions to New MSME Financing Gateway Platform

On Thursday, 18th September, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) convened a high-level breakfast meeting at Protea Skyz Hotel to introduce financial institutions to the newly established MSME Financing Gateway Platform — a cutting-edge digital solution designed to revolutionize access to finance for Uganda’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Developed with the support of the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the EU-EAC MARKUP II Programme, the platform seeks to bridge the persistent financing gap that has long hindered MSME growth.

By directly connecting MSMEs with a wide range of financial institutions, it provides a transparent, efficient, and data-driven channel for businesses to access tailored financial products and services.

Speaking during the engagement, PSFU Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Stephen Asiimwe, urged financial institutions to embrace the platform as a transformative tool for digital inclusion and private sector growth.

“Let’s work together to digitally transform MSME financing in Uganda,” Asiimwe said. “Your participation will not only enhance your institution’s visibility and outreach but will also position you as a champion of inclusive growth, innovation, and sustainability.”

The meeting drew participation from key players across Uganda’s financial ecosystem, including commercial banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, and development partners.

Stakeholders commended the initiative as both timely and strategic — arriving at a moment when MSMEs, which account for more than 90% of Uganda’s private sector and employ millions, are seeking innovative and accessible financing solutions to scale their enterprises.

Ultimately, the MSME Financing Gateway Platform is envisioned as a cornerstone for Uganda’s financial inclusion agenda, fostering stronger partnerships between lenders and entrepreneurs, and driving the country toward a more resilient and digitally empowered economy.

PSFU Welcomes New Members to Strengthen Private Sector Collaboration and Growth

On Thursday, August 28th, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) officially welcomed a new cohort of members during an induction session held at its head offices in Nakasero, Kampala.

The session, led by Mr. Francis Kisirinya, PSFU’s Chief Membership Officer, served as an introduction to the Foundation’s mission, strategic programs, advocacy initiatives, and the various platforms through which members can participate in shaping Uganda’s private sector development agenda.

The induction was designed to orient the new members on PSFU’s core mandate to foster a competitive and sustainable private sector that drives inclusive economic growth and job creation.

Participants were briefed on ongoing programs in areas such as trade facilitation, business competitiveness, innovation, skills development, and public–private dialogue, all of which provide avenues for member engagement and partnership.

The new members officially joining PSFU include:

• Tricolor Partnerships T/A BNI Uganda (Corporate Member)
• Business Development Service Providers Network (Member)
• Cocoa Exporters Association Uganda Ltd (Member)
• Civil Society Coalition on Transport (Member)
• Credit Reference Bureau Association Uganda Ltd (Member)
• I&M Bank (Corporate Member)
• Flow Uganda Ltd (Corporate Member)
• Pet Flakes Ltd (Corporate Member)

Their addition further reinforces PSFU’s position as the apex body for the private sector in Uganda, representing over 300 business associations, corporate entities, and SMEs across multiple sectors of the economy.

Speaking during the induction, Mr. Francis Kisirinya welcomed the new members, noting that their inclusion marks another important step toward building a stronger and more united business community.

“We are delighted to have these new members join the PSFU family,” said Mr. Kisirinya. “Each of these organizations brings unique expertise, innovation, and sectoral experience that will enrich our collective efforts to influence policy, improve the business environment, and unlock new opportunities for private sector growth. PSFU thrives on collaboration, and together, we can amplify the voice of the private sector to drive Uganda’s social and economic transformation.”

PSFU launches study on Advancing Uganda’s Agricultural Trade through Efficient Borders

Uganda is intensifying efforts to unlock the full potential of its agricultural trade by addressing cross-border inefficiencies that continue to undermine competitiveness and farmer incomes.

This commitment was reaffirmed during a high-level multi-stakeholder dialogue convened by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) with support from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), on Tuesday, 30th September, at Protea Skyz Hotel, Naguru.

The dialogue brought together government agencies, private sector leaders, and development partners to discuss findings from a groundbreaking study titled “Advancing Uganda’s Agricultural Trade through Efficient Borders.”

The study—conducted across key One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) including Busia, Malaba, Lwakhakha, and Elegu—underscored the pivotal role of cross-border trade in driving Uganda’s economic growth, regional integration, and poverty reduction.

According to the findings, Uganda’s total exports reached USD 7.12 billion in 2024, while informal agricultural trade within the East African region—dominated by commodities such as maize, beans, dairy, coffee, fish, and fruits—remained a critical contributor, generating USD 566.6 million in 2023.

This sector sustains thousands of smallholders, particularly women, who constitute more than 70% of informal traders.

Despite progress achieved through regional initiatives such as the Electronic Single Window, the EAC Customs Union, the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), traders still face significant bottlenecks. Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) continue to inflate costs and prolong clearance processes, with exporters to Kenya spending an average of 355 hours to complete cross-border procedures.

The Uganda–Tanzania corridor alone experiences estimated annual losses of USD 16.7 million due to NTBs, with broader economic impacts exceeding USD 95 million. Traders continue to grapple with multiple inspections, inconsistent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, inadequate storage facilities, and unreliable connectivity—challenges that are especially damaging for perishable goods.

Nearly 90% of traders surveyed reported costly delays leading to daily losses of USD 100–250, while informal traders—particularly women and youth—remain vulnerable to unofficial fees, insecurity, and poor infrastructure.

Restrictions on key products such as maize, milk, eggs, and sugarcane—often linked to uneven enforcement of food safety standards—have further complicated trade flows.

Nevertheless, the study notes gradual improvements attributed to digitised customs systems and streamlined documentation. About 37.5% of respondents reported moderate improvements in border efficiency, while 27.5% observed significant progress.

The high-level dialogue served to disseminate the study’s findings, officially launch the report, and chart a joint roadmap for policy, legal, and institutional reforms to strengthen agricultural trade.

Key priorities identified included reducing NTBs, addressing financing constraints, improving cooperative governance, and enhancing value addition within agricultural value chains.

Participants reached consensus on several critical actions—among them, securing strategic commitments from government agencies, financial institutions, and private sector actors to close financing gaps, tackle regulatory bottlenecks, and promote inclusive market access.

They also pledged multi-agency support to strengthen farmer protection, improve extension services, and advance agricultural competitiveness across borders.

Overall, the dialogue marked a significant step toward a more efficient and inclusive cross-border trade system—one that promises to empower farmers, boost export earnings, and enhance Uganda’s role in regional trade integration.

PSFU Launches Nationwide Study Findings on Contract Farming in Uganda

Kampala, Uganda – Thursday, 21st August

The Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), in partnership with the AGRA, on Thursday, August 21st, launched comprehensive nationwide study findings on Contract Farming in Uganda, at Protea Skyz Hotel, Naguru.

The study, under the theme: Formalizing Agricultural Markets for Inclusive Growth, aimed at advancing the Contract Farming Bill 2023, provides evidence-based recommendations to formalize agricultural markets and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Paul Mwambu, Commissioner of Crop Inspection and Certification at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), underscored the urgent need for reforms. He noted that “Over 68% of farmers receive no credit or input support from buyers. Where input and grade linkages are absent, smallholder farmers struggle to meet quality and quantity requirements, limiting the potential of contract arrangements. This study will go a long way in offering solutions to such challenges, hence increasing productivity among Ugandan farmers.”

The CEO of PSFU, Stephen Asiimwe, applauded the Foundation’s policy team for undertaking a nationwide study to professionalize and streamline contract farming in Uganda.

“This research provides the groundwork for fairer and more structured agricultural market systems that protect farmers while enhancing their income, and subsequently increasing their purchasing power and improving the economy,” Asiimwe said.

Adding to this, Dr. Julius Byaruhanga, Director of Policy and Business Development at PSFU, emphasized PSFU’s commitment to policy advocacy: “This study is a critical step towards enacting the Contract Farming Bill 2023.”

He added that: “Contract Farming in Uganda is meant to protect farmers, aggregators, and processors in a way that will avoid bottlenecks of having farmers or off-takers breaching the contracts they enter into of the lack of a protective law. This is the reason why we did a nationwide study, to understand what the business practice around contract farming is,”

The launch and dialogue brought together key stakeholders from across the agricultural sector, including representatives from government, Parliament, farmer groups, agribusinesses, and development partners.

The discussions focused on the findings of the study, the Contract Farming Bill 2023, and building consensus on the next steps towards a coordinated legal and policy framework for Uganda’s agricultural transformation.

Below is the detailed report for the Contract Farming Study conducted by PSFU, for further review

pdf Contract Farming in Uganda WEB (2.31 MB)