HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Hundreds of opportunities await entrepreneurs, young people, women, students, researchers and investors at the 6th Annual Social Entrepreneurship Symposium 2026, which has brought together more than 500 participants to explore ways of scaling enterprises that address community challenges while creating economic value.
The symposium, organised by the Social Entrepreneurship Association in Uganda (SEAU) and Capital Solutions, is taking place today at the Social Entrepreneurship Hub in Kajjansi, Kampala, under the theme “Reimagining Impact, Scaling Social Enterprises for Inclusive Growth.”
Dr Joyce Namirimu Tamale, the co-founder and CEO of Capital Solutions and chairperson of the Social Entrepreneurship Association in Uganda, said the gathering is intended to go beyond a conventional conference by creating a platform where entrepreneurs can learn, network, showcase their businesses and connect with potential sources of finance.
“This is not an event as any other event. This is an acceleration, a platform which is bringing together like-minded people to scale social entrepreneurship, to talk about inclusive economic growth, but most importantly, to handle and ignite people who are solving community problems profitably,” Tamale said during a recent press conference held recently at their offices in Kajjansi, along Entebbe Road.
Networking and business opportunities
About 250 established social entrepreneurs are attending, representing sectors including agribusiness, tourism, transport and logistics, education, health and climate action.
Tamale said the diversity of participants is providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to identify partners, customers, suppliers and people who can help them expand their enterprises.
“This is a high-level networking event which enables attendees to get one or two people that can be able to join their business, scale, market your business,” she said.
Participants have been given an opportunity to access to four sessions dedicated to in-depth discussions on social entrepreneurship, creating opportunities to acquire practical knowledge from practitioners and other experts.
Opportunity to meet investors
Access to finance is one of the major attractions of the symposium, with impact investors and development partners expected to participate.
Tamale said participants can use the event to establish relationships with potential funders, stressing that financing often begins with a conversation and relationship rather than an immediate investment.
“For the young people and women, this is your opportunity to come and open up and unlock capital,” she said, noting that Capital Solutions previously helped young women access Shs50 million in seed capital.
Among the organisations that are participating are impact investors, development partners and other institutions involved in supporting social enterprises.
Tamale revealed that over sh500m in venture capital which is held in their Social Entrepreneurship Fund will be lined up to be accessed by participants with viable business proposals.
Youth and women in focus
The symposium is prized with creating space for young people and women, who Tamale said are already significant beneficiaries and participants in social entrepreneurship.
Students from institutions including Kampala International University and Makerere University, alongside university lecturers, in attendance, as well as participants from Kenya and Tanzania, while others from Europe and the United States are participating virtually.
About 80 per cent of participants are attending physically, with 20 per cent joining online.
Learning from successful enterprises
Luke Kigozi, Managing Director of Luke Solar and Vice Chairperson of the Social Entrepreneurship Association, said the symposium has enabled participants to learn from enterprises that have already tested different business models.
He however pointed out that entrepreneurs should measure the success of the symposium by what they are able to implement after attending.
“Success is seeing that we have practical conversion. You come, you experience what is taking place here, but you go out and embed these useful lessons you have picked from here and inspiration into your business,” Kigozi said.
Participants have also come across testimonies from entrepreneurs who have used training and accelerator programmes to structure their businesses and subsequently connect with larger funders.
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