Museveni-inspired 'Kibalo' app to to improve financial planning for entrepreneurs

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) has unveiled a smart digital software application designed to help small and medium enterprises make data-driven decisions aimed at increasing profitability, avoiding financial losses and building sustainable wealth.

The outgoing Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Monica Musenero, unveiled the Kibalo digital application, describing it as a tool for improving business profitability through better understanding of cash flows, balance sheets and return on investment. The event attracted hundreds of innovators, product developers and service providers on May 29, 2026, at Kabira Country Club in Bukoto, a suburb of Kampala.

Musenero said President Yoweri Museveni has popularised the term “Kibalo” (Luganda for “calculation”) to promote data-driven and profitable business planning. The term has since been adopted as the name of the application.

She said the application was developed by the Productivity Acceleration Bureau (PAB) under the Office of the President’s Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat.

Musenero reminded participants that in his address on poverty eradication and wealth creation, “President Museveni uses the word kibalo to tell people to move away from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. He emphasises that farmers must employ strict calculations—understanding costs, input, and market value—to guarantee profits and increase household incomes,” Musenero added.

She said the concept emerged after observing President Museveni’s call for commercial agriculture under the Kibalo approach, although many people initially did not fully understand the message.

“Museveni outlined 10 problems hindering Uganda’s economy from growing. Many people are outside the money economy; those in the money economy are in the wrong enterprises, and those in the enterprises do not utilise the Kibalo. This prompted me to carry out research on how much people calculate to project the profits,” Musenero recalls.

She stressed that the primary goal of the application is to enable Ugandans to make strategic and informed investments that boost household income and align with the country’s economic transformation agenda.

The Kibalo tool functions as a localised decision-making and financial planning software with key features including enterprise comparison, allowing users to compare profitability and resource requirements across businesses such as poultry, piggery, coffee and cocoa farming, among others.

Musenero also proposed introducing the Kibalo application to Members of Parliament as a financial management tool, saying it would help safeguard them from predatory loan schemes after swearing in. The initiative aims to address key financial risks faced by legislators, including:

“After being sworn in, MPs are frequently targeted by loan sharks offering large sums of money. Unplanned Investments: Lawmakers often channel borrowed funds into poorly managed, unplanned ventures. Financial ruin: The combination of heavy debt burdens and poor management frequently drains legislators' finances. Dr Musenero's proposal emphasises that lawmakers require structural financial tools to manage wealth prudently and stay clear of insurmountable debts”

Musenero added that once sufficient data is collected, innovators will develop an official artificial intelligence model to advance indigenous AI solutions and digital inclusion in Uganda. This includes plans for speech recognition tools in local languages to assist deaf individuals, as well as AI tools supporting braille users and the visually impaired.

PWD MP speak out

Robert Ssewagudde, a Member of Parliament representing persons with disabilities (PWDs), said in an interview with New Vision that he welcomed the Kibalo application but urged government to also prioritise the provision of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to PWDs.

“The Kibalo Application tool is okay, but the PWDS do not have startup capital to venture into businesses. Quite a few PWDS have benefited from (PDM). Local leaders, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), and other officials must ensure proper implementation of the PDM. They consider the PWDs to benefit from the PDM, especially in rural areas. The money will help them manage their business ventures; they will utilise the Kibalo digital Application for profit,” said Ssewagudde.

Innovators speak out

Abdu Magala Tebusweke of Amagala Leather Company Brands, who makes leather products from animal hides, said the application will help identify high-demand products in the market.

“The Kibalo Applications has helped me to make shoes and handbags that are highly demanded on the market. Our target is to substitute imported leather products on the Uganda market,” he said.

Blessing Kukunda of Green Door Supplies Uganda, who manufactures fruit wines, fruit juice and adds value to fruits, said the tool has helped her properly cost production inputs.

“It has helped to cost all the ingredients I put in the businesses. Before, I had not included other costs like carriage, transport, and packaging, but now I will include them to know the profits. If the business is not making profits, I may go for another viable one that makes profits,” said Kukunda.