A new door has opened for young innovators and women-led enterprises in Uganda’s growing green economy, after Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL) and the Embassy of France unveiled an ambitious programme to accelerate green technology ventures across the country.
The initiative, dubbed the GreenTech Accelerator, is a two year project aimed at equipping entrepreneurs whose businesses provide climate smart solutions from renewable energy and waste recycling to sustainable agriculture and green mobility.
At the programme’s launch in Kampala, officials noted that the accelerator is designed to support over 200 small and micro enterprises with a strong focus on women and youth whose ventures address environmental challenges while creating jobs.
According to SBIL Chief Executive Officer Catherine Poran, the partnership marks an intentional investment in homegrown innovators working to transform Uganda through sustainability.
“The green economy is no longer optional, it is the future of business. Entrepreneurs who build solutions that protect the environment must be intentionally supported, scaled and financed,” she said during the launch.
Poran added that Uganda’s climate prone economy presents both a challenge and an opportunity, signalling that startups that harness eco-friendly innovations will be pivotal in shaping the country’s economic resilience.
The initiative is backed by financing worth approximately €687,000 (about Shs2.7billion), with the French Embassy providing the largest share of the grant. Stanbic will complement the fund with business incubation support, technical training, mentorship and market access opportunities for the selected enterprises.
Virginie Leroy, the French Ambassador to Uganda, said the partnership reinforces France’s commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs at the forefront of the global climate transition.
“Investing in women and youth innovators is not only an environmental imperative, but also an economic necessity. Their ideas hold the potential to redefine Africa’s development path,” she remarked.
Officials confirmed that enterprises will be selected from the Kampala Metropolitan Area and the Albertine Region, a hub of emerging energy and industrial activity where sustainable environmental practices are increasingly crucial.
The project’s thematic focus spans a wide range of sectors including clean energy, circular economy solutions, waste and water management, environmental health, climate-smart agriculture and green transport systems.
Successful applicants will undergo structured capacity building, receive business development coaching and be connected to financing and market networks aimed at turning their innovations into scalable enterprises.
The call for applications and onboarding of selected startups is expected to commence in the coming weeks, with SBIL coordinating enterprise assessments, mentorship partnerships and regional rollout strategies.