Kampala, Uganda,
Geraldine Ssali the Permanent Secretary in the Uganda Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives took part in DFCU bank and Agribusiness Development Centre’s awarding a total sum of 10 million Uganda shillings to 3 outstanding enterprises that participated in cohort 2 and 3 of their Business Accelerator program.
Grace Akatuha of kikazi Agri Products, David Okalebo of Africa haven Ltd and Stephen Wakhweya of Fresh Horizon limited received cheques of Ugx 5,000,000, Ugx 3,000,000 and Ugx 2,000,000 respectively for their exceptional participation in the programs cohort that was launched early this year on 15th February 2023.
“As we graduate and award cohorts 2 and 3 months later, we not only see positive signs in the take-up of the agribusiness enterprise knowledge we are teaching them but we have also picked key learnings from since cohort 1 that have informed part of what we are implementing and what we are to continue with in the coming cohorts” says Josephine Mukumbya the Executive Director of ADC.
So far, over 95 Agribusiness enterprises have taken part of this accelerator program which aims to strengthen value chains in the agricultural sector across the country. ADC, DFCU and The ECOS project by GIZ through their Employment and Skills for development in Africa program (E4D) are determined to empower over 200 agribusinesses this year making sure they are competitive on the global market.
“When someone’s enterprise has ISO certification or a Q-mark, that means they can supply the international market and that’s our target. To make this happen, we are trying to ensure that we reach all kinds of producing businesses and ADC opens up our window to those in Agriculture lest we duplicate our efforts ” Says Jimmy Byaruhanga of GOPA worldwide consultants who are implementing the ECOS project.
In regards to the cooperative bank, Geraldine Ssali in her remarks said that government in July 2023 got approval from cabinet to formulate a work-paper to inform the revival of a new national cooperative bank. This bank is supposed to help the various SACCOS in the sector access cheap and patient capital.
“The trade ministry has completed the formulation of a committee that is to help deliver the bank. Everybody on the value chain of its revival is positive. We have also consulted widely on ways to ensure the new bank remains resilient to enable agribusinesses like these stand strong.” She said.
