Over 50 high-potential Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from the Kampala Metropolitan, Busoga, and West Nile regions completed 3-day intensive business growth bootcamps to scale Uganda’s Green and Circular Economy (GCE).
The bootcamps were delivered under the WeWork — Green and Decent Jobs for Youth project through The Good Green Business Accelerator, implemented by SHONA Group in partnership with Enabel and the Government of Uganda, with funding from the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium. The initiative identified and selected businesses from hundreds of applicants operating in sectors of renewable energy, sustainable farming, smart irrigation, sustainable fashion and interior design, eco-tourism, waste management, green construction, green manufacturing and digital green material marketplaces.
In Uganda, SMEs make up roughly 90% of the private sector, contribute 20% to national GDP, and account for over 80% of manufactured output. However, many green enterprises struggle with access to finance, limited business acumen, high collateral requirements, and talent mismatches. To address these hurdles, the WeWork — Green and Decent Jobs for Youth project is implementing a holistic business support mechanism that combines capacity building, access to finance and talent connections to contribute to a thriving, inclusive and sustainable green and circular economy ecosystem driven by competitive, investment-ready businesses that create decent jobs, reduce environmental harm and promote resource efficiency.
“Our objective is to move entrepreneurs from being green by accident to being green by design,” said Regina Bamugye, Project Manager at SHONA Group. “By building strong business acumen and operationalising green and circular value chains, we are preparing these SMEs for growth and be able to access affordable capital and create sustainable, decent jobs for young Ugandans.”
For participating founders, the three-day bootcamps provided key operational breakthroughs and clear roadmaps for growth.
Speaking of their experience at the bootcamp, Aminata Najjingo, founder of Amylia Fashions, said, “What an incredibly inspiring and insightful experience it was to be part of this programme! The bootcamp was not only highly practical and well-structured but also packed with so much valuable knowledge and insight. We were fortunate to learn from exceptional facilitators who made every session engaging, relevant, and applicable to the realities of growing a business. I’m leaving with so much to take home, greater clarity, practical tools, new perspectives, and meaningful networks built with an incredible group of fellow entrepreneurs. I’m especially looking forward to putting my 3-year growth plan into action, guided by the knowledge and insights gained throughout the programme and the expertise of the professionals who facilitated it.”
Following the bootcamps, selected businesses will receive ongoing advisory support and capacity building to be able to access capital through catalytic matching grants and access talent matching grants that subsidise 50% of new youth hires’ wages for up to six months.
