NCBA Bank Uganda has launched a one-year Enterprise Development Programme aimed at equipping 50 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with practical skills, mentorship and structured support to strengthen their operations and achieve sustainable growth.
The inaugural cohort was flagged off on August 20, 2026, at Fairway Hotel in Kampala. The initiative, run through the bank’s Business Banking Customer Value Proposition in partnership with MAT Abacus Business School, targets some of the persistent bottlenecks that limit SME performance in Uganda.
SMEs form the backbone of the country’s private sector. They account for about 90–99 per cent of all businesses, contribute about 75 per cent of GDP, employ more than three million Ugandans and generate over 80 per cent of domestic revenue.
Yet many remain informal, struggle with weak financial management, low operational efficiency and limited access to growth opportunities. High failure rates in the early years continue to constrain job creation and broader economic transformation under the National Development Plan and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
The NCBA programme addresses these gaps through a structured journey that begins with business gap analysis and diagnosis, followed by onboarding, practical workshops, one-on-one and group coaching, business clinics, graduation and ongoing alumni support.
Participants will receive hands-on training in business planning, financial management, operational efficiency and other critical capabilities needed to build more competitive and investment-ready enterprises.
NCBA chief executive officer Mark Muyobo said the bank is deliberately moving beyond traditional lending.
“At NCBA, we believe that supporting SMEs goes beyond providing access to finance. It is about helping business owners build the capabilities, structures and confidence required to grow sustainable enterprises. This partnership with MAT Abacus allows us to take a more holistic approach by walking alongside entrepreneurs throughout their growth journey. We are excited to welcome the first 50 businesses into the programme and look forward to seeing them translate this experience into stronger, more resilient and bank-ready businesses,” he said.
Isaiah Kizito, executive programmes coordinator at MAT Abacus Business School, noted that the support will be tailored to each enterprise’s stage of development.
“We are delighted to partner with NCBA to equip SMEs with practical tools, knowledge and mentorship for real business growth. The programme will be tailored to each business, meeting entrepreneurs at their current stage and supporting them throughout their growth journey to build stronger, more sustainable and bank-ready businesses,” he said.
Upon completion, graduates will retain access to an alumni network, continued mentorship and, where appropriate, NCBA’s financial products to fund further expansion. The partnership combines the bank’s expertise in financial services with MAT Abacus’ experience in enterprise development and executive education.
By focusing on internal systems, management practices and formalisation alongside capital access, the programme seeks to raise survival rates, improve competitiveness and help SMEs become more bankable.
