Small business owners in Greater Mukono are now poised to capitalize on various growth opportunities, following a two-day training workshop aimed at enhancing their business management skills.
The workshop, which concluded on June 24, also provided Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) from diverse sectors with access to affordable financing.
The over 450 participants, including traders, youth entrepreneurs, agro-processors, ICT service providers, educators, and green companies, expressed that the combined exposure to business development services and affordable financial products has reignited their ambition to grow their businesses.
Ronald Baganda, the owner of Treasure Cosmetics Products, shared his experience: “I have always been manufacturing cosmetic products and searching for customers, but I had never received any formal business training. This session highlighted the challenges I faced, mainly due to a lack of business knowledge. Now that I’m equipped with the right skills and access to affordable finance, I can manage and grow my enterprise more effectively.”
The training was part of the MSME Accelerator Program, a one-year initiative designed to accelerate the growth and impact of 2820 MSMEs in various sectors, including Agribusiness, Manufacturing, ICT, Building and Construction, and the Green Economy. The program is implemented through a partnership between Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited and the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FSME), with support from the Argidius Foundation and Opportunity International.
To date, the program has trained over 2000 small-scale business owners in regions across Uganda, including Mubende, Hoima, Soroti, Lira, Masaka, and Jinja. The participants shared valuable insights and collaborated to address challenges in areas such as production and marketing, ultimately discovering new business opportunities.
Johnson Rukara, the Business Solutions and Development Manager at Opportunity Bank, emphasized the importance of interactive sessions in understanding the needs of MSMEs.
He stated, “By engaging directly with MSMEs, we gain a better understanding of their challenges, allowing us to build their capacity and support their growth towards greater success.”
