In a strategic push to build an export-led economy, Enterprise Uganda has officially launched the Export Accelerator Program (EAP). This initiative is specifically designed to dismantle the barriers that have historically hindered local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from competing effectively on the international stage.
During the program’s inauguration, Enterprise Uganda Director General Charles Ocici urged Ugandan entrepreneurs to expand their vision beyond domestic borders. He emphasized that while the global market offers vast opportunities, it demands uncompromising quality and consistency, noting that the EAP provides intensive professional support rather than just basic training to prepare businesses for global competition.
The launch of this program is considered a critical milestone as Uganda aims for ambitious economic growth over the next two decades.
A defining feature of the EAP is its collaborative framework, which brings together financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and standards authorities to create a practical knowledge hub for exporters.
Stella Zerenzi Atim, Head of Enterprise Banking at Absa Bank Uganda, highlighted that this partnership is vital for making SMEs investment-ready. By equipping these businesses with the technical skills needed to navigate international supply chains, the initiative aims to solve the long-standing challenge of limited access to credit for exporters.
The inauguration also served as a forum for open dialogue between the private sector and government regulators.
Business owners raised persistent challenges such as tax constraints, a lack of real-time market information, and logistics coordination issues. Addressing these concerns, logistics and supply expert Ibrahim Abdhi warned that documentation errors and delivery delays are primary factors that damage credibility with international buyers.
He strongly advised exporters to work closely with professional freight forwarders to ensure a more seamless and reliable supply chain process.
The timing of this program is strategically significant as it coincides with the ongoing development of the Kenya-Uganda Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
The railway is expected to drastically reduce the cost of transporting goods to international ports. By synchronizing infrastructure development with capacity building, the EAP ensures that Ugandan products will be market-ready by the time the logistics network is fully operational. Currently, the first cohort of 100 entrepreneurs is completing their training, a move seen as a major success in boosting the country’s foreign exchange earnings and long-term economic resilience.
