Overview:
NCBA and MAT Abacus flag off a one-year enterprise programme in Kampala, offering 50 SMEs coaching, business clinics and mentorship to grow and scale.
KAMPALA – NCBA Bank Uganda has partnered with MAT Abacus Business School to launch a one-year enterprise development programme aimed at equipping small and medium enterprises with the skills, mentorship and support needed to grow their businesses.
The NCBA Enterprise Development Programme, run under the bank’s Business Banking Customer Value Proposition, was flagged off at Fairway Hotel in Kampala on 20 August 2026, with 50 SMEs forming the inaugural cohort.
The event was attended by NCBA Bank Uganda Chief Executive Officer Mark Muyobo, MAT Abacus Executive Programs Coordinator Isaiah Kizito, and representatives of the participating businesses.
The programme is structured as a year-long process taking businesses through several stages, beginning with a gap analysis and diagnosis, followed by onboarding, core workshops, coaching and business clinics, graduation and continued alumni support.
Participants will receive support in areas including business planning and financial management, intended to strengthen their operations and make them more bank-ready. They will also take part in one-on-one and group coaching designed to help them turn the training into practical action. On completion, graduates will retain access to an alumni network, mentorship and potential access to NCBA’s financial products to support their next phase of growth.
Muyobo said the bank’s support for SMEs went beyond access to finance. “It is about helping business owners build the capabilities, structures and confidence required to grow sustainable enterprises,” he said. “This partnership with MAT Abacus allows us to take a more holistic approach by walking alongside entrepreneurs throughout their growth journey. We are excited to welcome the first 50 businesses into the program and look forward to seeing them translate this experience into stronger, more resilient and bank-ready businesses.”
Kizito said the training would be tailored to each business. “We are delighted to partner with NCBA to equip SMEs with practical tools, knowledge and mentorship for real business growth,” he said. “The program will be tailored to each business, meeting entrepreneurs at their current stage and supporting them throughout their growth journey to build stronger, more sustainable and bank-ready businesses.”
NCBA said the inaugural cohort marked the start of a broader programme that would support more SMEs over time, building a community of entrepreneurs who can learn from one another and access mentorship. The bank said the partnership combined its financial services expertise with MAT Abacus’s experience in enterprise development to help SMEs formalise, scale and access growth opportunities.