By Kabuye Ronald
National Entrepreneurs Traders Association NETA Uganda has equipped young entrepreneurs with financial literacy skills, business networking opportunities and knowledge on how to access new markets and grow their enterprises.
The skills were imparted during a one-day youth entrepreneurs’ conference held at the Motive Entrepreneurs Training Facility along Port Bell Road in Kampala.
The conference brought together dozens of young entrepreneurs who benefited from practical presentations covering business development, taxation, access to finance and market opportunities.
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) presented on taxation policies and tax holiday concessions, giving participants information on their tax obligations as well as incentives available to businesses.
Beatrice Kyosiga, head of the SMEs Special Programmes Unit for Youth and Women at Uganda Development Bank (UDB), said the bank has several youth-focused financing packages targeting sectors such as tourism and hospitality, agriculture, ICT, energy, oil and gas, healthcare, the creative industry and education.
She said young entrepreneurs can access the financing provided their projects meet the bank’s eligibility requirements.
Muteesi Doreen, a Sales Supervisor at Centenary Bank’s Makerere University branch, said the bank offers youth-friendly loan packages ranging from Shs100,000 to Shs2 million.
She said the loans are available to young people aged between 18 and 35 and may come with a grace period of up to one year without requiring security.
Doreen described Centenary Bank as an indigenous financial services provider offering affordable interest rates to different categories of clients.
Florence Kolubaro of Equity Bank and Kyosiga of UDB also highlighted financial products available to entrepreneurs and students across several East African Community countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), in its presentation, cautioned young entrepreneurs against lifestyles that could expose them to HIV, warning that poor health could undermine their business ambitions and future prosperity.
Meanwhile, Birungi Israel, Business Development Manager at Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, thanked NETA Uganda for giving exhibitors an opportunity to showcase their products and services while interacting with young entrepreneurs.
He said the hospital provides modern, digital and comprehensive eye-care services, including cataract surgery, vitreoretinal surgery, corneal transplants, paediatric ophthalmology and other specialised eye-care services.
Birungi said the hospital has conducted more than 3,000 cataract surgeries, 6,000 corneal transplants and more than 11,000 vitreoretinal-related procedures, among other treatments.
He said the hospital was proud to participate in the conference and use the platform to introduce its services to young entrepreneurs.
NETA Uganda President Dr. Thadeus Musoke Nagenda thanked participants, partners, sponsors and exhibitors for supporting the organisation’s maiden youth entrepreneurs’ conference.
He specifically commended companies and institutions, including Movit Products and Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, for contributing to the success of the event.
Nagenda said the symposium was designed to give young entrepreneurs practical business knowledge, access to networks and opportunities to connect with institutions capable of supporting the growth of their enterprises.
