How a Shs 1tn Stanbic fund is turning students into entrepreneurs

What the report says

Stanbic Bank Uganda has announced a Shs 1 trillion financing drive aimed at women, young people and farmers, in what The Observer reported as a three-year effort under its Positive Impact Agenda. The bank says it plans to mobilize the money by 2028 through partnerships, with the wider goal of supporting small enterprises, job creation and more lending into productive parts of the economy.

According to the article, the commitment was unveiled by Stanbic chief executive Kenneth Mumba Kalifungwa during the finale of the 11th Stanbic National Schools Championship at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, where Sedes Sapientiae Academiae Secondary School of Rushere won the 2026 title. The report says Stanbic currently has Shs 5.3 trillion in active lending in Uganda, and more than Shs 1 trillion already directed to sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, science and mining. The bank also wants to raise the share of its loan book going to those growth sectors from 20% to 32% by 2029.

The championship, run under the theme “Flex Your Genius,” featured student teams from more than 500 schools and highlighted ideas such as solar irrigation, mechanisation, recycling, crop preservation, food processing and waste management. The Observer reported that the initiative is meant to help students move from an exam-focused mindset toward entrepreneurship.

Broader background: Uganda has set ambitious long-term growth targets, and private-sector financing for small business and youth-led ventures is seen as one way to help expand opportunities, especially in rural areas and informal markets.