Uganda’s social enterprise sector is seeking to attract new investment, expand into regional and international markets and create jobs through a proposed US$1 million fund expected to be launched at the Pan-African Social Enterprise Summit in Kampala on November 23–24.
The summit, to be held at Hotel Africana, is organised by the Federation of Uganda Social Enterprises (FUSE) in partnership with Ashoka East Africa. It is expected to bring together about 500 delegates, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and development partners, to discuss financing, market access and the policy environment for businesses that combine commercial activities with social and environmental objectives.
Timothy Mugerwa, president and chief executive of FUSE, said the proposed Pan-African Social Enterprise Fund would help mobilise capital for enterprises seeking to address social and environmental challenges through commercially sustainable business models.
“The launch of a US$1 million Pan-African Social Enterprise Fund shows that Africa is ready to invest in its own social entrepreneurs. PSES 2026 is where capital, policy and enterprise will meet,” Mugerwa said.
However, organisers have not yet disclosed the fund’s sources of capital, investment criteria, management structure or disbursement arrangements. A working committee is expected to guide discussions on its financing and operational framework.
The proposed fund comes as social enterprises continue to face constraints in accessing finance, securing customers and obtaining institutional support. The businesses operate in sectors such as energy, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, using commercial approaches to address challenges including unemployment, poverty and environmental degradation.
Examples in Uganda include Village Energy, Ecobricks in Masaka, Mob-Clinic, Ewaffe Cultural Village and Endiro Coffee.
FUSE, which says it has about 2,500 members across the country, is also engaging the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to develop a dedicated policy framework for social enterprises.
Mugerwa said the absence of a national policy framework made it more difficult for such businesses to secure financing, build partnerships and access markets.
A formal policy could clarify how social enterprises are recognised and supported, while providing investors with a clearer basis for assessing businesses that pursue commercial returns alongside measurable social impact. Its effectiveness will depend on the provisions adopted and how they are implemented.
The summit is expected to attract participants from 15 countries outside Uganda, with two impact investors from the United States also confirmed, according to Mugerwa.
Organisers plan to connect more than 500 African social enterprises with potential investors and business partners through presentations, exhibitions, networking sessions and a Social Enterprise Marketplace. The marketplace will allow businesses to display and sell their products to delegates and the public.
For Ugandan businesses, the opportunity will lie in converting these engagements into investment agreements, supply contracts and access to new markets. Mugerwa said FUSE wanted local enterprises to sell their products and services to counterparts in Europe and elsewhere.
The cross-border ambitions align with the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to expand trade among African countries. However, businesses will need competitive products, adequate financing, reliable distribution networks and the capacity to meet market requirements to benefit from wider trading opportunities.
The summit also aligns with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan, covering the 2025/26 to 2029/30 financial years, and the government’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy, which aims to grow the economy from about US$50 billion to US$500 billion by 2040.
Organisers say social enterprises can contribute to inclusive growth by creating employment, particularly for young people and women, while developing sustainable commercial solutions to social and environmental problems.
The programme will include a pitching competition for innovators aged 15 to 35, with prizes of US$4,000 and US$2,000. The competition targets enterprises already generating revenue or with solutions ready for commercialisation. Organisers said they had received about 200 applications by October 13.
The summit will conclude with the Social Enterprise Awards Gala Dinner at Hotel Africana on November 24. The third edition of the awards, following events in 2024 and 2025, will recognise Ugandan social innovators across 10 categories.
Participation costs US$150 per delegate, while exhibition fees vary according to the package selected.
Beyond the summit, FUSE is developing a digital social value marketplace intended to help enterprises promote and sell their products. The platform could provide an additional route to market, although its commercial impact will depend on business participation, customer uptake and the operating model.
The success of the proposed fund and the summit’s broader ambitions will ultimately depend on whether the engagements translate into actual financing, sustainable business partnerships and measurable growth for social enterprises.
