Stanbic, French embassy launch €687,000 GreenTech Accelerator for Uganda’s SMEs

November 8, 2025 in Business, Companies by Editor

The Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL) and the French Embassy in Uganda have launched the Stanbic GreenTech Accelerator Program, a two-year initiative aimed at helping youth and women-led microenterprises tap into opportunities in the green economy.

Valued at €687,833 ($742,000), the project is co-financed by the French Embassy, which is providing a €450,000 grant, and Stanbic Bank contributing the remaining €237,833. The program targets 200 micro and small enterprises in areas such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, water and health, and the circular economy.

Unveiling the initiative in Kampala, Stanbic Business Incubator CEO Catherine Poran said the partnership marks a renewed effort to embed green business models into Uganda’s growth agenda.

“Blending the green business model in Uganda’s economic growth is crucial for sustainable development, job creation, and resilience to climate change,” she said.

The program will be implemented in the Kampala Metropolitan Area and the Albertine Region, focusing on enterprise skills, access to finance, and market development.

The Stanbic Business Incubator, a subsidiary of Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited (SUHL), has supported more than 5,700 SMEs since its inception, providing training in finance access, market linkage, and operational skills. In 2024 alone, Stanbic Bank extended UGX 76 billion ($20 million) in loans and credit to small businesses.

French Ambassador Virginie Leroy said the project builds on the earlier Network for Innovation and Sustainability in Agriculture and Tourism (NISAT) initiative, which supported 110 MSMEs in eco-tourism and agroecology.

“This new initiative is bigger and more ambitious, with a focus on creating jobs for Uganda’s youth in the green economy,” she noted.

James Karama, Head of Client Coverage at Stanbic Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking division, said the program aligns with the group’s purpose of driving Africa’s sustainable growth.

“We are investing in innovation in green enterprises and in people — particularly women, youth and farmers, who form the backbone of Uganda’s economy,” he said.

Johnson Abitekaniza, Assistant Commissioner for MSMEs at the Ministry of Trade, said the government is prioritizing green growth through a dedicated Green Finance Unit under the Ministry of Finance.