By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • International News & Politics
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Money & Finance
    • Mobile and Telecommunication
    News
    Get breaking news, music updates, and celebrity stories from Uganda and East Africa. Stay informed with Lifestyle Uganda—your insider source for real-time industry updates.
    Show More
    Top News
    Lycamobile Uganda data bundles and voice (1)
    Lycamobile Uganda: 4 Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
    4th April 2025
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    5th October 2023
    lifestyleug.com__Airtel Uganda revises its double data bundle offers (1)
    Airtel Uganda Is Now Offering Double Data Bundles for Its Smartphone Users
    Sponsored by
    TK Makeup Empire
    Latest News
    Netherlands strikes migration deal with Uganda to host transit hub for rejected asylum seekers
    3rd October 2025
    Museveni inaugurates Uganda’s largest car plant, hailing it as a breakthrough for local industry
    3rd October 2025
    Chinese automaker Jetour Group enters Uganda with new SUVs, promises affordability and support
    27th September 2025
    260 arrested in Africa-wide crackdown on online romance scams and sextortion
    27th September 2025
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Celebrity
    • Biography
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Pop Culture
      • Travel/Culture
    Entertainment
    Stay up-to-date with Lifestyle Uganda Entertainment—the latest news, celebrity gossip, films, and TV shows from Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
    Show More
    Top News
    Lycamobile Uganda data bundles and voice (1)
    Lycamobile Uganda: 4 Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
    4th April 2025
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    Who is John Blaq: Biography, Profile and Life Story of Kashada John
    5th October 2023
    about Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi
    Who is Barbie itungo Kyagulanyi: 11 Facts You Need to Know About Bobi Wine’s Wife?
    14th April 2025
    Latest News
    Uganda’s Damalie and the Story of Doreen Mirembe: A New Voice in East African Drama
    25th September 2025
    Irene Ntale, Uganda’s R&B star, to wed fiancé Vincent Kalibbala this October
    25th September 2025
    Muhoza Trivia Elle wins Miss Uganda 2025/26 with message for single mothers
    23rd September 2025
    Sheilah Gashumba defends lifestyle after backlash over BBC Dubai trafficking exposé
    19th September 2025
  • Fashion
    • Beauty Trends
    • Accessories
    • Hair
    • Lipstick
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
    FashionShow More
    Elle Trivia Muhoza is the new Miss Uganda, taking over from Natasha Nyonyozi.
    Muhoza Trivia Elle wins Miss Uganda 2025/26 with message for single mothers
    23rd September 2025
    Hollywood favourite Giorgio Armani dies at 91.
    Giorgio Armani, designer behind a $10bn empire, dies aged 91
    5th September 2025
    Santa Anzo and Inspire Africa at UNAA 2025.
    Inspire Africa joins Santa Anzo in coffee-meets-fashion showcase at the UNAA Convention in New Orleans
    30th August 2025
    MultiChoice backs beauty training to boost local storytelling.
    MultiChoice Uganda backs makeup masterclass to boost local talent, strengthen film industry
    31st July 2025
    Miss Uganda 2025 launch highlights shift in strategy.
    Search for Miss Uganda 2025/2026 Begins with Centralised Format
    13th June 2025
  • Health & Living
  • Tips & Advice
Search
© 2023 Lifestyle Uganda. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Centenary Bank moves to expand credit access for Ugandan SMEs
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health & Living
Search
  • Home
  • News
    • International News & Politics
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Money & Finance
    • Mobile and Telecommunication
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Celebrity
    • Biography
    • Lifestyle
  • Fashion
    • Beauty Trends
    • Accessories
    • Hair
    • Lipstick
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Health & Living
  • Tips & Advice
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2023 Lifestyle Uganda. A Now & Entertainment Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
Lifestyle Uganda > Blog > News > International News & Politics > Centenary Bank moves to expand credit access for Ugandan SMEs
BusinessInternational News & Politics

Centenary Bank moves to expand credit access for Ugandan SMEs

Centenary Bank and the African Guarantee Fund have launched the Enterprise Finance Summit in Kampala, bringing together entrepreneurs and policymakers to tackle the financing challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses.

Musasi Isaac Christopher
Last updated: 12th September 2025 1:10 pm
By
Musasi Isaac Christopher
ByMusasi Isaac Christopher
Staff Writer
As an aspiring lifestyle blogger at Lifestyle Uganda, I specialize in exploring the vibrant realms of health, food, and the restaurant industry. My passion for sharing...
Follow:
- Staff Writer
Share
4 Min Read
Enterprise Finance summit tackles challenges facing Africa’s small businesses.
Dr. Fabian Kasi, MD. Photo/X/CentenaryBank
SHARE

Centenary Bank, Uganda’s largest commercial microfinance bank, convened more than 100 business leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs this week for the first Enterprise Finance Summit, an event aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses gain access to financing.

The summit, held Sept. 10 at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, was organized with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), a Pan-African institution that provides credit guarantees and financial products to banks in order to expand lending to small businesses. The event followed a December 2023 agreement between Centenary Bank and AGF to strengthen support for entrepreneurs across the country.

“Access to affordable financing remains a major challenge,” said Fabian Kasi, Centenary Bank’s managing director. “That is why our partnership with the African Guarantee Fund is essential, enabling us to extend greater support to SMEs and women-led enterprises.”

Call to close Africa’s $42bn gender financing gap at Kampala summit.
Alvin Ochieng, AGF. Photo/X/CentenaryBank

Kasi noted that small and medium-sized businesses form the backbone of Uganda’s economy, driving employment and poverty reduction, particularly among women and young people. He said the bank intends to use the summit to promote financial solutions, build networks and “strengthen the SME ecosystem for sustainable growth.”

Women-led enterprises were a recurring theme throughout the day. According to Uganda’s 2023–24 National Household Survey, 31 percent of households are headed by women. Yet female entrepreneurs often face higher barriers to credit, including limited collateral and systemic bias in the financial sector.

- Advertisement -
lifestyle uganda adwords

Alvin Ochieng of AGF pointed to the wider challenge across Africa. “While women drive 60 percent of entrepreneurship, they receive just 7 percent of start-up funding,” he said. Ochieng highlighted the AFAWA initiative — a joint program with the African Development Bank — which has so far delivered more than $200 million in loans to Ugandan businesses. The program also runs trade finance seminars and women’s business forums. “True success,” he added, “lies not only in financing but in businesses grown, jobs created and communities transformed.”

Other speakers, including World Bank consultant John Walugembe, urged entrepreneurs to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence, seek visibility in markets and build stronger relationships with financial institutions.

Centenary Bank, founded in 1983 as a credit trust for rural communities, has a long record of working with small businesses. Its programs include Cente Supawoman, a product for women entrepreneurs, and GROW loans, which provide working capital. The bank also runs financial literacy training sessions across Uganda.

Ugandan entrepreneurs urged to embrace AI at finance summit.
Dr. John Walugembe, World Bank. Photo/X/CentenaryBank

Panel discussions at the summit featured voices from Enterprise Uganda, Nshuti Financial Advisory Services and the Federation of Small & Medium Enterprises. Topics ranged from risk management to the role of “smart financing” in improving competitiveness.

For Centenary Bank and AGF, the meeting was the first in what they say will be a continuing series of efforts to bridge financing gaps and create new opportunities for Uganda’s growing base of entrepreneurs.

- Advertisement -
Fatura, an Egyptian B2B Marketplace, Is Acquired by EFG Hermes Holding
New Uganda Baati Branch Launched in Kyengera Amid Growing Demand for Building Materials
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba Leaves Twitter After 10-Year Presence
Major John Kazoora, ex-NRA officer and government critic, dies aged 67
Vevo and Musixmatch Introduce Moods: Targeting Users Based on Their Emotions

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Reddit Email Copy Link
Share
ByMusasi Isaac Christopher
Staff Writer
Follow:
As an aspiring lifestyle blogger at Lifestyle Uganda, I specialize in exploring the vibrant realms of health, food, and the restaurant industry. My passion for sharing insights and experiences drives my content, aiming to inspire and inform readers about the latest trends and tips in healthy living and culinary delights. Connect with me on WhatsApp at +256759100143.
Previous Article Aga Khan University marks ‘historic step’ with Kampala campus opening. Museveni and Prince Rahim open new Aga Khan University campus in Kampala
Next Article Blencowe secures funds as Orom-Cross graphite project nears key feasibility milestone. Uganda: Blencowe raises capital, promises ‘strong period of newsflow’ at Orom-Cross

Stay Connected

45.2kFollowersLike
5.1kFollowersFollow
213FollowersPin
35.6kFollowersFollow
11kSubscribersSubscribe
400FollowersFollow
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Netherlands signs migration return deal with Uganda.
Netherlands strikes migration deal with Uganda to host transit hub for rejected asylum seekers
International News & Politics News
3rd October 2025
Uganda opens massive vehicle plant, with Museveni touting it as a turning point for the economy.
Museveni inaugurates Uganda’s largest car plant, hailing it as a breakthrough for local industry
Automotive News
3rd October 2025
Uganda welcomes Chinese carmaker Jetour, eyes job creation.
Chinese automaker Jetour Group enters Uganda with new SUVs, promises affordability and support
Automotive News
27th September 2025
Coordinated cybercrime crackdown across Africa nets 260 arrests, exposes romance scams and sextortion networks.
260 arrested in Africa-wide crackdown on online romance scams and sextortion
International News & Politics News
27th September 2025
//

At Lifestyle Uganda, we inform, entertain, and inspire action through the content we create — empowering you to live a celebrity life.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health & Living

Top Categories

  • About Us
  • Send a Tip
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
Lifestyle UgandaLifestyle Uganda
Follow US
© 2025 Lifestyle Uganda. A Now & Entertainment Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..
I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

Not a member? Sign Up