Managers pause for a photo during the launch of the 17th edition of the Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies Survey 2025 at Sheraton Hotel Kampala recently
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Equity Bank Uganda’s boss has re-affirmed the bank’s unwavering commitment to supporting Uganda’s thriving SME ecosystem through tailored financial solutions, business advisory, capacity building and market access initiatives.
“We are currently serving over 15,000 SMEs with more than Shs 500 billion in financing across sectors which include agriculture, logistics, construction and manufacturing. This signifies our efforts towards continental Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is injecting $ 65 billion into real sector businesses across Africa,” said Claver Serumaga, the newly appointed Executive Director at Equity Bank Uganda.
Speaking during the launch of the 17th edition of the Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies Survey 2025 at Sheraton Hotel Kampala, he said they journey with SMEs from ideation to expansion.
“We walk hand-in-hand with them in order to nurture their growth. Our continued investment in this survey and beyond is a reflection of our belief in the transformative power of entrepreneurship,” he said during the event, which was held under the theme: “Driving Inclusive Business Growth- Empowering SMEs across All Sectors for Economic Transformation.”
Olivia Mugaba, Equity Bank’s Head of SME highlighted the real-world impact of the Bank’s partnerships.
“The story of Equity Bank is truly a story of transformation – of changing lives and enabling growth from the grassroots up,” she said, adding that she recalls a client who started with a Shs 10 million loan and now manages a Shs 2 billion portfolio.
“That’s the kind of impact we live for. This partnership has defined who we are- a bank that empowers SMEs to thrive, scale and become industry leaders.”
The 2025 survey sought to identify and celebrate Uganda’s fastest-growing, most resilient SMEs – those with annual revenues between Shs 360 million and Shs 25 billion, and at least three years of audited financials.
The process involves two detailed assessments: one on financial health and another evaluating governance, digital readiness, and innovation. Participation is free and nationwide research begins immediately, led by a team of 50 trained surveyors.
Benson Mwesigwa, KPMG Uganda’s Associate Director said that now that the survey is officially launched, their next step is to hit the ground running.
“We have deployed a team of over 50 researchers across the country to engage SMEs directly, collect valuable data and support them through this process. This is more than just a ranking; it’s a journey of discovery, capacity building, and connecting businesses to the partners, capital, and insights they need to grow.”
The launch also introduced the Bank’s parallel initiative: ‘Tupange Business ne Equity’, a series of SME forums scheduled across Uganda in the coming weeks. These forums aim to equip businesses with financial management tools, digital skills, and advisory support, further underlining Equity’s holistic approach to SME development.
Susan Nsibirwa, Managing Director of Nation Media Group, applauded the strength of the partnership, “Having Equity Bank as our official banking partner is a perfect fit. They have a solid reputation for serving SMEs, not just in Uganda but across the region,” she said.
The 2025 Top 100 Survey will run through July to September, culminating in a gala dinner in October to unveil the final rankings. The campaign also includes themed forums on; finance, tourism and technology, with key sessions led by Huawei and the Uganda Securities Exchange.
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