Business 17 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Launches UG Catalyst Summit to Boost Enterprise Growth Amid Small Trader Challenges
The National Planning Authority and Innovation Village Hub have introduced the UG Catalyst Summit to drive enterprise-led growth under NDP IV, focusing on key sectors like agro-industrialisation and tourism. This comes as small traders in Kampala face disruptions from KCCA's crackdown on informal vending. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-moves-to-structure-enterprise-growth-amid-small-trader-struggles-5427774
Uganda’s government is pushing for structured enterprise development through the newly launched UG Catalyst Summit, a platform by the National Planning Authority (NPA) and Innovation Village Hub. Set for June 25-26, 2026, it aims to align businesses with national priorities in the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), targeting sectors such as agro-industrialisation, tourism, minerals, oil and gas, and science, technology, and innovation.
The summit will connect enterprises to markets, funding, and support systems, featuring an Opportunity Dashboard for real-time insights into business pipelines and opportunities. Officials like Rita Ngenzi and Asumani Gulobi stress the need to link policy with practical outcomes, enhancing coordination for measurable growth.
This initiative arrives amid struggles for Kampala’s small and micro enterprises, which dominate over 90% of the private sector and provide 70-80% of jobs. Recent KCCA enforcement has evicted street vendors from public spaces to improve city order, disrupting livelihoods despite offers of market relocations.
Vendors like Kenneth Kazibwe claim available spaces are inadequate, while shifting online poses barriers in digital access and skills. The summit seeks to address gaps in market integration and capital access, but its success hinges on supporting displaced informal traders to ensure inclusive development.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)