By our Reporter
In a bustling Four Points, Kampala Sheraton conference room , the mood was one of quiet confidence as Mark Muyobo, Chief Executive Officer of NCBA Bank Uganda took to the podium to unveil a new chapter in the bank’s relationship with the country’s business community.
The launch of the bank’s Business Banking proposition, accompanied by the “Ku NCBA Kiggwa Ku Bwerere” campaign, signals a determined push to place small and medium-sized enterprises at the heart of Uganda’s economic transformation.
It is no secret that SMEs are the lifeblood of Uganda’s economy, accounting for more than 70% of private sector activity. Yet, for too long, many of these businesses have struggled against a familiar set of barriers: limited access to affordable finance, unpredictable cash flows and the daunting challenge of keeping pace with digital change.
These are not just operational hurdles; they are existential threats to the ambitions of thousands of entrepreneurs across the country.
Muyobo, who has spent years watching the Ugandan business landscape evolve, believes the answer lies not in simply offering loans, but in becoming a genuine partner in growth.
“These challenges require more than banking; they require a partner committed to unlocking opportunity,” he told the room, which included business leaders, policymakers, and members of the press.
What NCBA is offering is a suite of financial tools designed with the realities of Ugandan business in mind. From unsecured invoice discounting of up to UGX 500 million to LPO financing of up to UGX 180 million and asset financing covering up to 90% of invoice value, the proposition is built to give businesses the confidence to invest, expand, and seize new opportunities.
Perhaps more tellingly, the bank has pledged to provide credit responses within 48 hours and has waived transaction and loan arrangement fees for the first six months.
“Speed matters in business,” Muyobo emphasised, a sentiment that resonated with every entrepreneur in the room.
But the bank’s ambition extends beyond finance. In a move that sets it apart from many traditional lenders, NCBA has partnered with MAT Abacus to offer a free Enterprise Development Programme to all its SME customers.
The programme will provide practical training and mentorship in financial management, governance, tax compliance and sustainable growth—areas that are often overlooked but are critical to long-term success.
Digital banking is another pillar of the new strategy. With enhanced platforms like NCBA Now and ConnectPlus, business owners can now manage accounts, approve transactions and monitor cash flows from anywhere, freeing them to focus on what matters most growing their enterprises.
Abel Mwesigye, CEO of the Kampala City Traders Association, welcomed the initiative, noting that the private sector’s growth depends on financial institutions that truly understand the realities of doing business. “NCBA’s Business Banking proposition is a timely intervention,” he said.
As part of the wider NCBA Group, the bank is also leveraging its regional footprint to support cross-border trade and expansion, positioning itself as a key enabler of Uganda’s economic ambitions.
For Muyobo, the message is clear: “We are here to empower ambitions by providing financial solutions, expertise and partnerships that will support businesses to grow with confidence.”
In a country where entrepreneurship is often the only path to prosperity, that partnership could make all the difference.
As he closed his address, he left the room with a simple, defiant rallying cry that has become the bank’s mantra: “Let’s Go for it.” For Uganda’s business community, it is an invitation they can ill afford to ignore.
