Uganda: microbusinesses receive €100 million in support via EIB Global and Centenary Bank partnership

• Half of the investment funds shall be dedicated to supporting women’s microenterprises.
• 60% of projects will be in rural areas.
• Goal to finance some 2 million projects in seven years.

The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) and Centenary Rural Development Bank Ltd (CERUDEB) today announced an agreement to make €100 million available to private-sector enterprises, with a focus on female borrowers and microenterprises in rural areas.

This investment represents EIB Global’s largest ever microfinance loan to any country in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions.

The final beneficiaries are microentrepreneurs or microenterprises with fewer than 10 full-time employees. The investment also aims at supporting lending to financially underserved entrepreneurs in rural areas as their businesses continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 60% of the funding will go to projects in rural areas outside the capital city of Kampala.

CERUDEB shall use at least 50% of the financing to support women-run or women-owned businesses, in line with the EIB’s 2x Challenge criteria and SheInvest initiative.

The press announcement of the investment partnership between the two financial institutions was made ahead of the formal signing of the deal at the EU-Uganda Business Forum, in the presence of Uganda’s President Museveni.

As per a previous United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Uganda business survey from 2020, microfirms and female-led firms face the largest constraints, with 80% of firms reporting difficulties in access to capital. Financial services uptake indicates that only 11% of firms have a bank loan or line of credit, a proportion that is less than half of the average of countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Most micro- and small enterprises remain excluded from mainstream banking because the focus tends to be more on corporates and high net-worth individuals.

EIB Head of the Regional Hub for East Africa Edward Claessen said: “According to recent studies, access to finance remains the greatest obstacle to investment in Africa. Microfirms and female-led firms face the largest constraints, with the majority of firms reporting difficulties in access to capital. The funding opportunity offered to Centenary Rural Development Bank will go a long way in addressing these challenges and spurring the economic growth of Uganda.”

At the press announcement Centenary Bank Managing Director Fabian Kasi stated: “This partnership investment aligns with Centenary Bank’s strategy and reinforces our focus to grow our “mission-critical” portfolio, particularly by extending our financial inclusion agenda to the bottom of the pyramid by increasing access to credit in the areas of microfinance and agriculture lending. Currently we allocate 20% of the lending portfolio to agriculture.”

Mr Kasi further explained that the bank aims to issue 1.9 million loans to small growing businesses and microenterprises, with a specific focus on empowering 970 000 women or women-run businesses, and 1.17 million loans to microenterprises in rural areas: “This is not merely about the numbers; it is about transforming lives sustainably, uplifting communities, and laying the foundation for a more inclusive and resilient economy,” he said.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Uganda Ambassador Jan Sadek said: “This investment partnership with a focus on women-led and owned businesses is an excellent example of how Uganda can gain from the Global Gateway – the European Union’s investment strategy aimed at leveraging investments in sectors that are key for sustainable and inclusive growth. Through the Global Gateway, the European Union can pool resources from our Member States and EU financial institutions to narrow investment gaps while promoting competitiveness.”

CERUDEB’s main strategic objective is to be the preferred provider of innovative financial solutions, especially microfinance, and a strong catalyst for sustainable socioeconomic change. The bank has been a longstanding partner of the EIB since 2008, benefiting from investments of over €61 million to date.

The Ugandan bank has also benefited from the EIB’s technical assistance multiple times in the past, including to increase its outreach and training to refugee clients, improve its environmental and social guidelines, train its agricultural loan officers, and better support the bank’s smallholder customers.

CERUDEB launched operations in 1983 when it was founded on the initiative of the Ugandan Catholic Church to provide microfinance and financial services to the agricultural sector. Now headquartered in Kampala, the bank has 80 branches across the country and a network of more than 7 400 agents. These agents extend financial services to customers, especially in remote locations. The bank has grown over the years to become the second-largest bank in Uganda in terms of assets (12% market share) and deposits (10% market share).

“In addition to its public sector lending to governments, the EIB recognises that strong financial intermediaries are key to addressing market challenges and suboptimal investment situations across the African continent. EIB Global, the EIB arm financing counterparts outside Europe, is building on its many years of experience and partnership with banks, microfinance institutions and private equity funds by supporting their efforts to innovate and enhance the scope and financial inclusiveness of their outreach. It also targets non-banking financial institutions, such as guarantee funds, leasing companies or fintechs whose financial model is to enable greater outreach to underserved smaller businesses,” added Mr Claessen.

The EIB, in partnership with various financial institutions in Uganda, has provided over €346 million so far to support private-sector businesses, targeting agriculture and gender equality. Accompanying technical assistance has also been provided to these banks and microfinance institutions and their clients in a variety of areas including risk management, product development, environmental and social assessment, and financial literacy, among others.

Background information

EIB Global is the EIB Group's specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner in Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027, around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. With Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices around the world. 

About Centenary Bank

Centenary Bank is Uganda’s leading commercial microfinance bank committed to transforming lives through inclusive and innovative financial solutions, especially in rural areas, sustainably serving over 3 million customers, with an asset base of UGX 6.4 trillion. Financial inclusion is key for us, and we are reaching out through 80 branches, 205 ATMs, over 7 400 agents, and several other digital channels including CenteMobile banking, CenteOnline banking, CenteVisa debit and prepaid cards, and Mastercard Platinum debit card.