Uganda has secured 12 slots in the first cohort of the 2026 Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme, with entrepreneurs selected from a highly competitive pool across the continent.
The announcement was made during an unveiling ceremony at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where 1,951 beneficiaries were revealed as part of the Foundation’s annual entrepreneurship initiative.
The selected entrepreneurs form part of a broader target of 3,200 beneficiaries to be supported in 2026. According to TEF, the cohort was drawn from more than 260,000 applications submitted across 54 African countries, underscoring the scale and competitiveness of the programme.
The Foundation said beneficiaries will be announced in multiple batches to promote inclusiveness and sectoral diversity. Upcoming cohorts will include 100 entrepreneurs under the Waste Management Programme, 100 under Rwanda’s Aguka Programme, and 1,049 under the Women for Africa initiative—where higher Ugandan representation is expected.
Each successful applicant will receive seed funding of USD 5,000, in addition to structured business training, mentorship, and access to a continent-wide entrepreneurial network aimed at fostering growth and job creation.
Uganda’s presence in the first cohort reflects sustained participation in continental entrepreneurship initiatives, although experts say there is room to improve competitiveness and increase representation in future cycles.
Women account for 51 percent of the selected entrepreneurs, compared to 49 percent men, highlighting TEF’s continued emphasis on gender inclusion.
Speaking at the event, Tony Elumelu underscored the importance of entrepreneurship in driving Africa’s economic transformation and addressing youth unemployment, while calling for stronger enabling environments for businesses.
Co-founder Awele Vivian Elumelu encouraged unsuccessful applicants to remain persistent and reapply in subsequent cycles.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme remains one of Africa’s leading platforms supporting entrepreneurs through funding, capacity building, and mentorship.
Applications for the next cycle are ongoing, with Ugandans and other Africans encouraged to apply before the end of March 2026.
