Uganda took an important step toward strengthening its small business sector as government leaders, entrepreneurs, development partners, innovators, and private sector players gathered for the inaugural Uganda Catalyst Summit 2026.
Held alongside the global commemoration of the United Nations Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Day under the theme Reducing Barriers for MSMEs to Enter the Formal Economy: Formalize to Rise, the summit created a platform for meaningful conversations on how Uganda can help businesses grow, formalize, create jobs, and contribute more to national development.
The event was organized through a partnership between the National Planning Authority (NPA), The Innovation Village, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC), and other enterprise support organizations.
MSMEs Remain the Backbone of Uganda’s Economy
Speaking during the event, leaders highlighted the critical role played by micro, small, and medium enterprises in Uganda’s economy.
The sector is made up of about one million enterprises that contribute nearly 75 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and employ about 2.5 million people, representing around 90 percent of the non-farm private sector workforce.
Despite this contribution, many businesses continue to struggle. About one in every five enterprises closes within its first year, while more than half continue operating informally. Limited business knowledge, poor record keeping, difficulty accessing affordable financing, and low awareness of the benefits of formalization remain some of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs.
Government reaffirmed its commitment to making it easier for businesses to thrive by reducing the cost of doing business, simplifying registration processes, improving access to quality certification, and expanding market opportunities.
Uganda Catalyst Summit Focuses on Action
The Uganda Catalyst Summit was introduced as a long-term platform that connects entrepreneurs with policymakers, investors, researchers, development partners, and industry leaders to find practical solutions that support enterprise growth.
The summit also aims to increase public awareness of Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan and help translate national priorities into practical actions across the country’s key growth sectors of agro-industrialization, Tourism, Minerals Development, Manufacturing, and Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Organizers stressed that sustainable economic transformation can only happen when government institutions, the private sector, academia, and entrepreneurs work together toward common goals.
Innovation Needs More Than Good Ideas
In her welcome remarks, Rita Ngenzi, Executive Director of The Innovation Village, reflected on over a decade of supporting entrepreneurs across Uganda.
She noted that through operations in Kampala, Bwera, Gulu, and Jinja, the Innovation Village has worked with more than 300,000 entrepreneurs and innovators.
According to Ngenzi, experience has shown that talent alone is not enough to build successful businesses. Entrepreneurs also need supportive policies, access to finance, business development services, strong institutions, and partnerships that help ideas grow into sustainable enterprises.
She emphasized that platforms such as the Uganda Catalyst Summit help bridge the gap between national policy and the everyday realities faced by businesses, creating space for open dialogue and practical collaboration.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Enterprise Growth
Government highlighted several ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting entrepreneurs across the country.
These include Presidential Skilling Hubs that equip young people with practical skills, business incubators that nurture startups, industrial parks that promote manufacturing, and financing programs such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM) that continue to support youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
The Ministry of Trade also reaffirmed its commitment to helping businesses improve value addition, adopt appropriate technologies, and access both local and international markets.
Support was also recognized for innovation hubs such as The Innovation Village, whose incubation programs and shared production facilities continue to provide practical support for growing businesses.
Celebrating Innovation and Enterprise
As part of the United Nations MSME Day celebrations, outstanding businesses were recognized for their efforts in innovation, productivity improvement, sustainability, and enterprise development.
The recognition served as a reminder that Uganda’s entrepreneurs are already creating solutions that improve livelihoods, create employment, and strengthen communities.
Building Uganda’s Future Together
A key message echoed throughout the summit was that Uganda’s economic transformation cannot be achieved by government alone or by the private sector working independently.
It requires collaboration between policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, educational institutions, development partners, and support organizations.
The Uganda Catalyst Summit has positioned itself as a platform where these groups can work together to remove barriers, unlock opportunities, and accelerate enterprise growth.
As Uganda continues pursuing its development agenda, the success of the summit will ultimately be measured by the partnerships created, businesses supported, investments attracted, and opportunities generated for Ugandans across the country.
The inaugural Uganda Catalyst Summit has laid an important foundation for stronger collaboration, practical action, and a more competitive business environment where Uganda’s entrepreneurs can formalize, innovate, and rise.
