Ugandan social entrepreneurs have been urged to build financially sustainable businesses that can reach more people, access reliable markets and expand their social impact.
Speaking at the sixth Annual Social Entrepreneurship Symposium, Dr Joyce Namirimu Tamale, co-founder and chief executive of Capital Solutions and chairperson of the Social Enterprise Association of Uganda (SEAU), said social enterprises must respond to Africa’s widening inequalities, unemployment, climate pressures, fragile livelihoods and limited access to essential services.
She said sustainable growth requires solutions that can be replicated, measured and financed over the long term without compromising the needs and dignity of the communities they serve.
Keynote speaker Dr Ian Clarke highlighted the changing demands of running a growing enterprise, saying founders must adapt their skills and approach as their businesses expand.
“I often tell people that you start as a specialist and then you become a generalist,” he said.
Johnson Abitekaniza, assistant commissioner for training and business skills development at the ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, cautioned entrepreneurs against prioritising social impact at the expense of profitability.
“Social entrepreneurship may be beyond the profit that you are working for, but the profit must also be there,” he said.
Abitekaniza identified market access as another major challenge, saying enterprises must meet the quality and standards requirements of their target markets to compete successfully.
“We need to have things that take us to market access, and you can’t talk on the chain of market access without talking about standards, quality issues,” he said.
He urged entrepreneurs to organise themselves and work collectively to overcome barriers to entering new markets. Beyond identifying potential buyers, he said, businesses must demonstrate that their products meet market requirements.
Access to finance also emerged as a major concern, particularly for young entrepreneurs and women seeking to establish or expand their businesses.
Tamale said Capital Solutions had previously helped young women access Shs 50 million in seed capital. She also announced that more than Shs 500 million in venture capital held in the Social Entrepreneurship Fund would be made available to participants with viable proposals.
The funding presents an opportunity for enterprises seeking investment to strengthen their business models and expand their reach.
The symposium brought together impact investors, development partners and entrepreneurs to showcase ventures and explore potential financing opportunities. However, securing investment will depend on the quality of proposals and the ability of enterprises to demonstrate financially viable models and measurable social impact.
The programme also featured four sessions led by practitioners and experts, networking opportunities, and testimonies from entrepreneurs who had strengthened their businesses through training and accelerator programmes before attracting larger funders.
Beyond financing, discussions highlighted the importance of supportive policies, appropriate regulation, skilled personnel, technology and strategic partnerships in creating an environment in which social enterprises can thrive.
Speakers said these factors could help enterprises create jobs, expand opportunities for women and young people, strengthen communities and contribute to climate resilience.