Ag. Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Dr. John C. Muyingo, has called for a shift in Uganda’s approach to enterprise development, urging stakeholders to focus not only on establishing and training enterprises but also on ensuring that they survive, grow, create jobs and generate lasting wealth.
Dr. Muyingo made the remarks today at the Annual Uganda Social Entrepreneurship and SME Conference and Expo 2026 at Mestil Hotel, Nsambya, Kampala, where entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and other players in the private sector and social enterprise ecosystem gathered to discuss ways of strengthening sustainable businesses.
The conference is focusing on sustaining impact in social enterprises through innovation, financing models and market readiness, with particular attention to the challenges that prevent promising enterprises from growing into sustainable and resilient businesses.
Dr. Muyingo said the success of enterprise development should ultimately be measured by the ability of businesses to remain productive and create value over time.
“We need to move beyond the question, ‘How do we establish and train enterprises?’ to an even more important one: How do we ensure that these enterprises survive, grow, create jobs, generate wealth and continue creating value over time?” he said.
He noted that establishing an enterprise is only the beginning, arguing that entrepreneurs require an enabling ecosystem that supports them through different stages of business growth.
The Ag. Minister also challenged entrepreneurs to rethink the way they approach access to finance, saying the conversation should not only focus on where money can be obtained but also on whether enterprises have the structures and capacity required to responsibly utilise and repay financing.
“We should move beyond asking ourselves, ‘Where can we get the money?’ We should also ask, ‘Are our enterprises ready for finance?’” Dr. Muyingo said.
He emphasised the importance of strengthening enterprise management, financial discipline, innovation, market readiness and long-term planning if Ugandan businesses are to attract investment and compete effectively.
The discussions at the conference also highlighted the delicate balance between pursuing commercial sustainability and maintaining the social purpose that defines many social enterprises.
Dr. Gudula Naiga Basaza, CEO of Gudie Farms, said commercial viability should strengthen rather than undermine an enterprise’s mission.
“Commercial viability should not replace the mission, but mission must not become a reason for avoiding commercial discipline,” she said.
Her remarks underscored the need for social enterprises to develop sound business models that can generate sufficient revenue to sustain their operations while continuing to address social and community challenges.
The role of empowerment in strengthening community-based organisations was also highlighted, with Sr. Grace Angelina Aciro, Superior General of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu, noting that stronger institutions are better positioned to expand their contribution to society.
“If we are empowered, we can still help the world and do charity work better, because people easily believe in us. We are trusted,” she said.
Participants further stressed that enterprise resilience cannot be achieved through entrepreneurship training alone.
Jacqueline Kigonya, Board Director at Strathmore Global Institute, said enterprises require access to several complementary elements if they are to withstand economic pressures and achieve sustainable growth.
“Enterprise resilience cannot be built through enterprise training alone. It also needs finance, markets, technology, policy and partnerships,” she said.
The observation reflects a broader challenge facing SMEs and social enterprises, many of which possess viable ideas but struggle to scale because of limited access to affordable finance, markets, technology, business networks and supportive policies.
The conference is consequently providing a platform for stakeholders to examine practical approaches to financing, innovation, market access and partnerships that can help enterprises move from survival to sustainable growth.
Discussions are also emphasising the growing importance of responsible business practices, including environmental, social and governance considerations, as enterprises increasingly interact with investors and markets that demand greater accountability and sustainability.
For Uganda, strengthening the SME and social enterprise sector remains important to employment creation, innovation, household incomes and broader economic transformation. However, the discussions at the conference point to the need for a more comprehensive approach in which entrepreneurs are supported to build businesses that are commercially viable, socially responsible and resilient enough to withstand changing economic conditions.
Dr. Muyingo’s message therefore places enterprise sustainability at the centre of the entrepreneurship conversation, challenging stakeholders to look beyond the creation of businesses and focus on building enterprises capable of continuously creating value for their owners, employees and communities.
The conference brings together entrepreneurs, investors and other ecosystem players with the aim of strengthening collaboration and developing practical solutions that can enable Ugandan enterprises to become more innovative, financially prepared, market-oriented and sustainable.
