We equip youth from low-income communities with skills, mentorship, professional connections, and non-repayable grants of $250–$2,300 — the foundation that turns ideas into sustainable businesses. Our pilot since 2017 proves this approach works.
Source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) — SMEs account for approximately 90% of private sector employment in Uganda.
Training, coaching, connections, and a small grant — the complete foundation for a business that lasts.
Research by the World Bank (2021) confirms that bundled support — training plus capital — yields significantly higher business survival rates than capital alone in low-income settings.
These stories are from our 2017–2023 pilot phase. They demonstrate what happens when training, coaching, connections, and capital come together.
Starting point: Was selling his art pieces at just $20 each with no formal business structure.
Kula support: Invested approximately $1,000 and introduced him to an established professional artist who mentored him while we provided business coaching.
Today: Now sells art pieces at over $1,000 per piece. Has opened an art collective that supports 10 other youth, providing them workspace, mentorship, and market access. We exited profitably in 2021.
Starting point: Turned her own initial capital of just $0.70 into $2 in sales within a week, producing paper bags from home.
Kula support: Provided business coaching and mentoring to help her scale production and manage finances.
Growth: Within 5 months, had grown sales to over $700. Her business paid most of her non-tuition university expenses. She later went to university and we lost touch — but her business had already proven that micro-opportunities can fund education.
Starting point: Started at age 19 with just $30, providing event services to low-income schools.
Growth: Launched Zacmil Technologies in 2022. Generated over $30,000 in sales that year and returned $2,000 in dividends to shareholders.
Today: Business continues to grow. A clear example of how a small start, paired with the right support, can scale significantly.
During our pilot phase, we provided direct mentoring and capital support to 23 entrepreneurs. These historical results demonstrate what is possible and inform our current micro-grant approach.
businesses supported
profitable exits achieved
still active today
jobs created
Note: The pilot involved direct capital support. Our current model uses non-repayable micro-grants while we pursue appropriate regulatory licencing for future patient capital activities.
According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Uganda Report, Uganda has one of the highest business discontinuation rates globally, primarily due to lack of capital and training — precisely the gaps Kula Kawaida addresses.
PesaSmart gamified financial literacy card game developed under "Banking on Financial Literacy" partnership.
We maintain a dedicated fund that provides non-repayable micro-grants of $250 to $2,300 to entrepreneurs who complete our gamified financial training and business coaching program.
Grant recipients are selected based on business plan quality, coach recommendation, and demonstrated commitment. There is no interest, no repayment schedule, and no legal obligation to return funds.
Action path: choose a tier below, then use the contact details at the bottom of the page if you want to follow up.
Sustainability: We encourage successful grant recipients to contribute back voluntarily — creating a community cycle of support. These contributions, combined with profit-sharing from community hubs and ongoing donor support, replenish the fund for future entrepreneurs.
Fund a micro-grant for one entrepreneur's operating capital
Covers initial inventory, materials, or equipment for a trained entrepreneur
Seed a Business ($250)Fund a larger micro-grant for an entrepreneur ready to scale
Supports equipment purchases, stock expansion, or market access
Grow a Business ($1,000)Fund a full micro-grant for maximum impact
Provides comprehensive operating capital for a high-potential entrepreneur
Launch a Business ($2,300)Resource a grassroots mentor hub that identifies and supports entrepreneurs
Provides materials, mentor stipends, and professional connection events
Sponsor a Hub ($1,000)Sponsor a full training cycle for 20 entrepreneurs
Includes gamified workshops, coaching, mentorship matching, and impact reporting
Sponsor 20 Entrepreneurs ($10,000)Beyond direct entrepreneur support, we are strengthening our internal organisational capacity — the systems, people, and regulatory compliance needed to transition into a fully licenced patient capital hub under the Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority (UMRA) framework.
Your contribution here funds the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that makes everything else possible: legal and regulatory advisory, financial management systems, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and staff development.
Action path: use the contact details at the bottom of the page to discuss the most relevant support type.
The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) identifies institutional capacity as the single biggest barrier preventing community-based organisations from scaling into regulated financial service providers in Least Developed Countries.
Fund legal advisory and UMRA licencing preparation
Covers legal fees, compliance documentation, and regulatory advisory
Fund Regulatory ReadinessFund financial management and impact tracking systems
Builds the infrastructure for transparent grant management and impact reporting
Fund Systems & M&EFund staff training and professional development
Equips our team with skills in fund management, coaching, and organisational development
Invest in Team CapacityPartner with us to deliver gamified financial literacy and business coaching to your target communities. We operate as a training and capacity-building service provider — a legally straightforward commercial contract with measurable social impact.
Ideal for: Banks meeting financial literacy requirements, corporates with youth empowerment CSR goals, foundations funding entrepreneurship pipelines.
Discuss a PartnershipContact: see the footer below for email, phone, and address.
Donations go into a dedicated fund. Entrepreneurs who complete our gamified financial training and coaching program can apply for a non-repayable micro-grant of $250–$2,300. Selection is based on business plan quality, coach recommendation, and commitment. Grants are used for inventory, equipment, or working capital. There is no interest, no repayment schedule, and no legal obligation to return funds.
Yes. It is a grant, not a loan. We encourage (but do not require) successful recipients to contribute back voluntarily to support future entrepreneurs. There is no legal enforcement mechanism for repayment — this is purely a community goodwill cycle.
No. We are pursuing appropriate regulatory licencing from UMRA to offer patient capital directly in the future. Currently, we only provide non-repayable micro-grants alongside our training and coaching programs.
Through gamified PesaSmart trainings, community hub referrals, and demonstrated drive. No collateral or credit history required for training or grant consideration.
Hubs that directly mentor and support our entrepreneurs receive a share of net profits to reinvest locally in their communities.
We treat it as learning. The entrepreneur continues to receive mentoring support, and many go on to pivot or start new ventures with stronger foundations. The grant is not recoverable.