A cross section of officials from dfcu Bank and participants from the Ndeeba business community pause for pictures after the dine-out
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The decisions members of the SME fraternity make every day determine where their business goes, with financial discipline increasingly emerging as a critical factor in determining whether enterprises survive, withstand shocks and achieve sustainable growth.
William Kayongo, Head of Enterprise Banking at dfcu Bank, said ambition alone is not enough to guarantee business success, urging entrepreneurs to exercise greater discipline in managing their finances.
“As a business owner, you are the engine of your business. Growth is important, but sustainable growth requires discipline. Businesses need to manage their cash flows carefully, protect their productive assets and plan for risks that can interrupt operations,” Kayongo said.
His remarks come at a time when small and medium enterprises remain central to Uganda’s economy but continue to operate in an increasingly challenging environment characterised by rising operating costs, tighter cash-flow cycles, changing customer behaviour and growing competition.
While access to affordable capital remains important, entrepreneurs are increasingly required to make prudent financial decisions to ensure that borrowed or generated funds are directed towards productive activities.
Kayongo cautioned business owners against mixing personal and business finances, saying unexpected personal expenses can quickly eat into working capital needed for supplier payments, salaries and other operational requirements.
The issue featured prominently during the latest Kyusa Level SME Customer Dine-Out held at the dfcu Ndeeba branch, where entrepreneurs engaged senior bank leaders on the challenges and opportunities affecting their businesses.
The engagement is part of dfcu’s broader SME support programme, which seeks to provide business owners with financing and other solutions aligned with their growth ambitions, operational needs and investment priorities.
Discussions at the engagement went beyond access to credit to focus on the everyday financial decisions that determine whether businesses can withstand economic pressure.
Entrepreneurs discussed liquidity management as operating costs increase, separating personal and business finances, protecting productive assets and accessing financing that matches the pace of their operations.
Business continuity was another key issue raised during the engagement.
Arthur Kintu, Head of Bancassurance at dfcu Bank, said entrepreneurs should consider insurance and other risk-protection measures as part of their business planning instead of waiting until disaster strikes.
“For many business owners, their assets represent years of investment and are central to their income generation. Protecting those assets should form part of the core business plan, not something considered only after an unexpected event occurs,” Kintu said.
He said protecting assets can help businesses remain operational when unforeseen events disrupt normal activities.
Mathias Jumba, Head of Integrated Channels at dfcu Bank, said direct engagement with entrepreneurs enables the bank to understand the different stages of business development and provide relevant support.
“Every business is different. The needs of a startup differ from those of an expanding enterprise. These conversations help us understand where our customers are and what they are trying to achieve,” Jumba said.
Rebecca Birungi, Chief Financial Officer at dfcu Bank, said customer feedback is particularly important as businesses respond to changing market conditions and make decisions about expansion.
She said the conversations allow the bank to understand entrepreneurs’ ambitions, challenges and growth priorities while ensuring its products and services remain relevant.
Customers at the Ndeeba engagement also raised specific banking needs alongside broader concerns about the operating environment.
Through the Kyusa Level SME Customer Dine-Out Series, dfcu continues to bring entrepreneurs and business leaders together to discuss financing, financial discipline, risk protection and strategies for navigating Uganda’s changing SME landscape.
For entrepreneurs, the discussions underline a broader lesson: business growth is not only about increasing sales or securing more capital, but also about managing what is already available with discipline, protecting productive assets and preparing for risks that could threaten continuity.
About the Author
