PSFU Champions Deeper Uganda–China Investment Partnerships at High-Level Conference

Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), on Tuesday 21^st April, played a central role in advancing Uganda–China economic cooperation at the Uganda–China Investment Conference held at Mestil Hotel Kampala. The high-level engagement convened a diverse delegation of Chinese investors, Ugandan private sector players, and government representatives, creating a strategic platform for dialogue, deal-making, and long-term partnership building.

Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Uganda in collaboration with the Uganda Consulate in Guangzhou, the conference focused on unlocking practical pathways for trade expansion, investment flows, and industrial collaboration between the two countries. The event also showcased Uganda’s investment-ready sectors through exhibitions and targeted engagements mobilised by PSFU, reinforcing the country’s positioning as a competitive and reliable investment destination in Africa.

Speaking at the conference, PSFU CEO Stephen Asiimwe underscored the importance of structured Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements and joint ventures as the foundation for sustainable economic cooperation. He noted that beyond high-level discussions, deliberate efforts must be made to connect enterprises, facilitate technology transfer, and promote value addition in key sectors. “This event calls for Business-to-Business engagements and joint ventures between the two countries if we are to realise a win-win situation,” he stated.

Asiimwe further highlighted Uganda’s strong comparative advantage in agriculture, with particular emphasis on coffee. He called on Chinese investors to tap into Uganda’s high-quality coffee value chain, noting the country’s capacity not only in production but also in processing and export. His remarks positioned coffee as a strategic entry point for broader agro-industrial investment and collaboration between Uganda and China.

The conference also provided an opportunity for direct interaction between Chinese investors and Ugandan enterprises, fostering trust, knowledge exchange, and the exploration of bankable projects. Participants engaged in discussions around improving market access, strengthening supply chains, and aligning investment priorities with Uganda’s national development agenda.

In her closing remarks, Judyth Nsababera, Consul General of the Uganda Consulate in Guangzhou, commended the Chinese delegation for their strong interest in Uganda and their willingness to engage beyond the conference setting. She noted that their visit to various parts of the country reflects growing confidence in Uganda’s investment potential and reiterated the Consulate’s commitment to facilitating deeper bilateral trade and investment linkages.

The Uganda–China Investment Conference marks another significant step in strengthening economic diplomacy between the two countries, with PSFU reaffirming its role as a key bridge between government and the private sector in driving inclusive and sustainable investment partnerships.

PSFU, ITC Onboard Business Development Service Providers onto MSME Financing Gateway

Tuesday, March 3rd | Kampala, Uganda

Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), held a comprehensive onboarding session for Business Development Service (BDS) providers onto the MSME Financing Gateway, yesterday, Tuesday, March 3rd. The session, taking place at Protea Hotel Naguru Skyz, has attracted more than 40 BDS providers from across the country.

The onboarding initiative is aimed at equipping BDS providers with the knowledge and tools required to effectively utilize the MSME Financing Gateway — a digital platform designed to bridge the financing gap for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Uganda.

During the session, participants are being guided through how the platform operates, the step-by-step registration process, and the range of benefits available to them and the enterprises they support. The Gateway serves as a centralized access point linking MSMEs to financial institutions, tailored financial products, and critical business support services.

The training is being led by PSFU’s Manager for Member Services, Ronny Mulongo, alongside Outreach Manager Florence Mambea. The two officials emphasized the central role BDS providers play in strengthening enterprise capacity and ensuring MSMEs meet the standards required to secure financing.

“This platform is designed to simplify and streamline access to finance for MSMEs,” Mulongo noted. “By onboarding BDS providers, we are strengthening the ecosystem that prepares businesses to become investment-ready and bankable.”

Mulongo also reassured participants about the safety and confidentiality of their information on the platform. He emphasized that robust data protection measures have been integrated into the system to safeguard users’ personal and organizational data. He assured the BDS providers in attendance that their information would be securely stored and only used for its intended purpose within the framework of the Gateway.

“We understand that trust is critical when it comes to digital platforms,” he said. “We want to assure you that your personal data and institutional information are protected, and the system has been designed with strong security protocols to ensure confidentiality and integrity.”

Florence Mambea highlighted the Gateway’s role in improving visibility and coordination among ecosystem players. She explained that the platform not only connects enterprises to financiers but also enables BDS providers to showcase their services, expand their networks, and better support clients seeking capital.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Juliet Musoke, International Coordinator for the EU-MARKUP II programme funded by the European Union, reaffirmed ITC’s commitment to supporting participants beyond the onboarding phase. She assured attendees that the ITC will provide continuous guidance and technical support through the platform.

“Our objective is to ensure that BDS providers are fully empowered to use this Gateway as a tool to unlock financial opportunities for MSMEs,” Musoke said. “Through sustained support under the EU-MARKUP II programme, we aim to position enterprises more strategically to access funding from financial institutions.”

The MSME Financing Gateway forms part of broader efforts to enhance financial inclusion and strengthen Uganda’s private sector competitiveness. By bringing BDS providers onto the platform, PSFU and ITC are reinforcing a collaborative approach to improving enterprise readiness, reducing information asymmetry, and facilitating sustainable access to finance.

The onboarding session marks a significant step toward building a more coordinated and digitally enabled business support ecosystem, with stakeholders optimistic that the initiative will accelerate MSME growth and resilience across Uganda.

LNOB RBF Project Ends on High Note with Over 8400 Households Gaining Access to Solar Energy

Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), in partnership with GIZ Energising Development (EnDev) Uganda, on Thursday 29th January, officially concluded the Leave No One Behind Results-Based Financing (LNOB RBF) Project at the GIZ Offices in Kololo, Kampala.

The PSFU delegation, led by CEO Stephen Asiimwe, alongside LNOB RBF Project Manager Apollo Muyanja Mbaziira and DSRBF Project Manager Francis Kajura, was commended for the successful implementation of the initiative, which has significantly expanded clean energy access among underserved communities.

Working with private solar energy companies, the project enabled 8,407 households to gain access to renewable solar power, achieving 95% of its target - a milestone that underscores the private sector’s critical role in last-mile energy delivery.

Un Young Yong, Head of Project at EnDev Uganda, applauded the partnership and the project’s tangible impact, noting Uganda’s strong performance under the programme.

“The LNOB RBF project demonstrates how results-based financing can effectively unlock private sector potential to reach communities that are often left behind. Uganda’s success story is why the country remains among those selected to continue under the initiative,” he said.

PSFU CEO Stephen Asiimwe emphasized that the next phase of energy access must go beyond lighting to economic transformation.

“Access to solar energy should now move from basic lighting to productive use - powering small businesses, Agro-processing, and other income-generating activities. That is how energy access translates into real household income growth and sustainable livelihoods,” Asiimwe noted.

LNOB RBF Project Manager Apollo Muyanja Mbaziira highlighted the operational success and collaboration behind the results.

“This achievement reflects strong coordination between PSFU, EnDev, and our private sector partners who worked tirelessly to reach last-mile communities. Beyond the numbers, we have seen real changes in households - improved safety, better learning conditions for children, and reduced reliance on unsafe lighting sources,” Mbaziira said.

The LNOB RBF Project has played a pivotal role in expanding clean energy solutions, improving safety, enhancing children’s study conditions, and driving socio-economic progress in hard-to-reach communities - reaffirming the power of strategic partnerships in advancing inclusive development.

PSFU Conducts Impact Assessment Field Visits Under LNOB RBF Project

The Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), in partnership with GIZ EnDev, from Thursday 22nd, January to Sunday 25th January, conducted field visits across the Bugisu and Sebei sub-regions as part of the impact assessment for the Leave No One Behind Results-Based Financing (LNOB RBF) Project, which is nearing its closure.

The visits covered the districts of Namisindwa, Bukwo, Kween, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli and Bududa, focusing on last-mile communities that benefited from subsidised solar energy solutions delivered through the project. To effectively execute the project, PSFU was joined by several participating private sector energy companies, including Ignite Energy Access (ENGIE), d.light Uganda, LUK Solar, Solar First, Papillon Living and Access to Solar.

Led by PSFU CEO, Mr. Stephen Asiimwe, and the Project Manager, LNOB RBF – Apollo Muyanja Mbazzira, the assessment visits aimed to interface directly with beneficiaries to document their experiences, capture lessons learnt, and assess the project’s overall social and economic impact in hard-to-reach communities.

Speaking during the engagements, Asiimwe noted that the LNOB RBF Project was designed to demonstrate that access to clean and affordable energy can be a catalyst for inclusive development.

“What we are seeing in these communities confirms that when energy reaches the last mile, it transforms lives. Children can study at night, households are safer, and families are able to improve their livelihoods. This project shows that no community is too remote to benefit from sustainable energy solutions,” Asiimwe said.

Beneficiaries shared powerful testimonies on how access to solar energy - acquired through a subsidised upfront cost and an affordable daily payment of UGX 1,000 - has significantly improved their quality of life.

One such beneficiary, Ms. Nanyama Eunice from Kaboyi Village in Namisindwa District, described the change as life-altering.

“Before solar, my children could not read at night, and we depended on candles which were risky and expensive. Now, my home has light every evening, my children study without fear, and I no longer worry about fires. Even our security has improved because our house is no longer in darkness,” she said.

Across the visited communities, education emerged as one of the most visible benefits, with households reporting improved study habits and performance among school-going children. The PSFU team also noted enhanced household security at night and a significant reduction in fire-related accidents previously caused using candles and paraffin lamps.

Beyond lighting, Mr. Asiimwe encouraged beneficiaries to tap into the wider productive potential of solar energy.

“Solar energy can do much more for these communities. It can be used for solar drying of produce such as grains and cassava, for cooking, and for other income-generating activities that strengthen household incomes and resilience,” he added.

As the LNOB RBF Project draws to a close, PSFU reported strong performance against its targets. In partnership with the participating private energy companies, the project has registered sales of 8,407 solar home kits, translating into a 95 percent achievement against the target of 8,850 units.