Kampala, 15 July 2025 — Equity Bank Uganda, in collaboration with Nation Media Group and KPMG, has kicked off the 17th edition of the Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies Survey, a flagship initiative designed to celebrate, empower, and accelerate the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Uganda.
Launched today at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, the 2025 edition is themed “Driving Inclusive Business Growth—Empowering SMEs across All Sectors for Economic Transformation.” The programme aims not only to recognise outstanding SMEs but also to equip them with tools, knowledge, and networks for long-term success.
Empowering Uganda’s Business Backbone
Speaking at the launch, Claver Serumaga, the newly appointed Executive Director of Equity Bank Uganda, emphasized the institution’s unwavering commitment to entrepreneurship.
“At Equity, we’re more than just bankers—we are growth partners. From early-stage startups to expanding enterprises, we stand beside SMEs at every phase,” Serumaga said.
The survey targets businesses with annual revenues between UGX 360 million and UGX 25 billion and at least three years of audited accounts. It involves a two-tier evaluation—assessing both financial performance and organizational maturity, including governance, innovation, and digital readiness.
Capacity Building and Real-Time Data Collection
Benson Mwesigwa, Associate Director at KPMG Uganda, explained that the 2025 survey will go beyond rankings.
“We’re deploying more than 50 researchers across the country to directly interact with SMEs, gather critical insights, and help build their capacity,” said Mwesigwa. “This is about creating connections—to funding, strategy, and business development opportunities.”
The survey period runs from July to September, with a prestigious gala in October to recognize Uganda’s Top 100 mid-sized companies. Leading up to the awards, participating firms will engage in thematic forums exploring sectors such as finance, tourism, technology, and capital markets, supported by organizations including Huawei and the Uganda Securities Exchange.
Strategic Partnerships Driving Growth
Nation Media Group Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa highlighted the strength of the partnership behind the programme.
“Equity Bank brings an incredible depth to this initiative. Their regional leadership in SME support makes them an ideal collaborator. Together, we’re not just spotlighting success—we’re cultivating it.”
This marks the second year Equity Bank is the exclusive banking sponsor of the survey, following a three-year commitment. The bank currently supports over 15,000 SMEs in Uganda with a loan portfolio exceeding UGX 500 billion, spanning critical sectors like agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and construction.
These efforts are aligned with Equity Group’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is investing USD 65 billion into the continent’s real economy to spur recovery and inclusive growth in the post-pandemic era.
Real Impact, Real Stories
Olivia Mugaba, Head of SME Banking at Equity Bank, shared a powerful example of the bank’s impact on entrepreneurs.
“We’ve seen businesses that started with a UGX 10 million loan grow into multi-billion shilling operations. That’s the transformation we aim to inspire and support every day.”
Alongside the survey, Equity Bank also announced the launch of ‘Tupange Business ne Equity’, a new SME-focused initiative designed to offer practical business advisory services and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs across Uganda.
Looking Ahead
With this year’s survey now underway, organizers hope to uncover and celebrate the businesses that are quietly powering Uganda’s economic engine—and help them grow into tomorrow’s market leaders.