Global entrepreneurship week to boost networking
The week-long initiative, coordinated locally by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Uganda in partnership with Enterprise Uganda, Vision Group and other ecosystem players, will provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to exchange experiences, identify business opportunities and connect with people and institutions that can support their ambitions.
Representatives of various groups of entrepreneurs and organisations pose for a group photo during the launch of the preparations for the Global Entrepreneurship Week activities at Enterprise Uganda on October 14. (File photo)
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Uganda’s entrepreneurship community is preparing for a week of networking, practical training, business clinics and innovation as the country joins the global celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2026.
During the week, which will be held at Enterprise Uganda’s Training Centre in Butabika, Kampala, from November 16 to 21, 2026, under the global theme “The World Needs What You Build,” organisers will seek to strengthen connections that can help businesses grow, create jobs and contribute to national development.
The week-long initiative, coordinated locally by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Uganda in partnership with Enterprise Uganda, Vision Group and other ecosystem players, will provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to exchange experiences, identify business opportunities and connect with people and institutions that can support their ambitions.
Globally, GEW is coordinated by the Global Entrepreneurship Network and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
The movement reaches entrepreneurs and business communities in more than 200 countries and territories through activities, competitions and events designed to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.
Mary Odongo, the managing director of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Uganda, says the main GEW Uganda conference is scheduled for November 19 and 20, followed by the climax event of the Pakasa Forum on November 21, organised in partnership with Vision Group.
She noted that the programme seeks to highlight the contribution of entrepreneurs to economic growth while encouraging business owners to develop sustainable enterprises that respond to market needs.
The participating organisations hold physical, virtual and hybrid sessions across different areas of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
CONNECTING ENTREPRENEURS TO OPPORTUNITIES
Odongo further noted that the GEW provides an important platform for showcasing Uganda’s entrepreneurship ecosystem while connecting business owners with individuals and institutions capable of helping them turn their ideas into viable and growing enterprises.
Among the people entrepreneurs can meet during the activities are potential funders, mentors, advisers and fellow business owners whose practical experiences could help them navigate challenges and identify new opportunities.
Her remarks underline the organisers’ ambition to make the celebration more than a series of conferences by creating opportunities for meaningful relationships that continue beyond the week itself.
For entrepreneurs struggling with market access, limited business knowledge or difficulties identifying appropriate sources of support, such connections can provide avenues for learning, collaboration and growth.
The partnership with Vision Group, particularly through the Pakasa Forum, is expected to extend the visibility of local entrepreneurs and bring their experiences and business challenges to a wider audience.
The organisers are also seeking to encourage collaboration among business development service providers, financial institutions, government agencies, mentors and other players whose work influences the ability of enterprises to survive and expand.
BEYOND THE SEARCH FOR LOANS
Charles Ocici, the director general of Enterprise Uganda, challenged entrepreneurs to look beyond the search for financing and concentrate on the internal structures, discipline and skills needed to build competitive businesses.
His message is particularly relevant to the objectives of GEW 2026, where practical learning and business improvement are expected to feature prominently.
Ocici has warned that access to credit alone cannot guarantee business success, arguing that enterprises need sound operational systems and responsible financial management to make productive use of borrowed money.
Many businesses, he has observed, struggle or collapse after failing to repay loans because they lack the structures needed to manage their operations, control expenditure and monitor performance.
His advice is that entrepreneurs should first understand how their businesses function, establish appropriate systems and develop the skills required to manage growth before relying on borrowing as a solution to their challenges.
He has also urged business owners to maintain a clear separation between business finances and personal or family expenditure, a practice that can enable enterprises to determine their true financial position.
“Proper bookkeeping, financial record analysis and disciplined cash-flow
A WEEK OF BUSINESS SUPPORT
The GEW Uganda 2026 calendar will feature various activities organised by various groups of entrepreneurs and organisations throughout the month of November from developing a business idea and understanding regulations to improving financial management, marketing and sustainability.
The Uganda Management Institute will hold a StartUp Policy Dialogue on November 18, from 9am to 1pm, in a hybrid format. The dialogue is expected to provide a platform for discussing policies affecting startups and the wider business environment.
Financial literacy will also take centre stage, with TAS Microcredit Limited scheduled to conduct sessions from November 17 to 18, starting at 10am.
INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM
Ronald Mukasa, Enterprise Uganda’s chief operations officer, has emphasised the importance of broad participation in entrepreneurship initiatives and the role played by different people in supporting businesses.
His messages around GEW have encouraged entrepreneurs and their supporters to recognise that business development involves more than founders alone.
“Employees, spouses, friends, advisers and other partners all contribute in different ways to the success of enterprises, while the wider business ecosystem influences whether promising ideas can develop into sustainable companies. This week is about you, the entrepreneur,” he said.
He urged entrepreneurs across the country to take advantage of GEW activities by building connections, participating in learning opportunities and engaging with other members of the business community.
Mukasa further stressed the importance of partnerships that deliver measurable value to both the private and public sectors.
He added that the week will also focus on business formalisation, noting that registration can help enterprises establish a clearer identity and improve their ability to engage with funding institutions.
The GEW activities offer an opportunity to bring these issues into discussions with entrepreneurs who are seeking to improve their businesses and prepare for expansion.