Pesapal Uganda has partnered with Pezesha to pilot a data-driven credit facility aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
The initiative is designed to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing Ugandan businesses: access to affordable working capital.
With nearly 60% of Ugandan adults excluded from formal credit and SMEs forming over 90% of the private sector, financing gaps continue to limit growth.
By embedding credit directly into its payments platform, Pesapal is providing merchants with timely, affordable, and responsible financing that leverages their actual sales and transaction data.
The pilot program will initially target a select group of merchants, allowing the companies to refine the experience before a wider rollout.
Through Pezesha’s proprietary Patascore credit scoring engine, merchants are assessed for eligibility and assigned appropriate credit limits based on real transaction data from Pesapal, including sales volume, seasonality, and repayment history.
This approach eliminates the need for traditional collateral, enabling businesses to bridge cash flow gaps, restock quickly, and scale with confidence.
Speaking on the partnership, Martin Barungi, Country Director Pesapal Uganda, said:
“We are excited to partner with Pezesha to bring this innovative credit solution to our merchants in Uganda. Many small and medium businesses face challenges accessing financing, which often slows down their growth. By embedding credit directly into our payments platform, we are empowering merchants to unlock new opportunities and strengthen their businesses.”
Jessica Tusiime, Operations Manager at Pezesha, noted that by partnering with Pesapl will enable them build resilience since they will be able to reach thousands of merchants.
“At Pezesha, our mission is to close the financing gap for SMEs across Africa. Partnering with Pesapal allows us to reach thousands of merchants with affordable and responsible credit, enabling them to build resilience and thrive in today’s competitive market.”
Through this partnership, merchants on the Pesapal platform will benefit by: Improving cash flow with timely access to credit, restocking faster to meet customer demand and scaling their businesses with confidence, supported by sustainable financing
The initiative aligns with the Bank of Uganda’s vision and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (2023-2028), which emphasize expanding access to affordable financial services, promoting responsible digital lending, and strengthening the country’s digital economy.
By combining digital payment solutions with embedded credit, Pesapal and Pezesha are positioning themselves as trusted growth partners for SMEs, empowering businesses not only to manage transactions efficiently but also to access the capital they need to grow.
This pilot could be a game-changer for Uganda’s private sector, where access to financing remains a critical barrier to SME development, potentially unlocking economic growth and sustainable job creation across the country.
