By Our Reporters
NATIONAL
The National MSME Finscope Survey has been launched marking an important step towards generating up to date Data Evidence on the Financial needs, constraints and growth prospects of Uganda’s micro, small and medium enterprises.
The survey was launched today, Thursday, September 24, 2026 at the Kampala Marriott Hotel in Nsambya, bringing together government officials, private-sector representatives, financial institutions, development partners and other stakeholders in the MSME* ecosystem.
The *Hon. Sanjay Tanna, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives,* was the Guest of Honour and delivered the keynote address at the launch. Tanna emphasised the importance of investment, value addition, innovation, appropriate financing and stronger partnerships between Government, financial institutions and the private sector in driving Uganda’s economic transformation.
Survey to inform the review of MSME Policy
In his remarks, Hon. Tanna highlighted the importance of generating reliable evidence to inform the ongoing comprehensive review of the MSME Policy 2015.
The existing policy focuses on developing viable, dynamic and competitive MSMEs, with interventions covering access to finance, markets, skills, technology, quality and business-support services. The new survey is expected to provide evidence that can help Government assess whether these interventions are adequately responding to the realities faced by enterprises today.
The survey will particularly seek to answer critical questions around why some micro enterprises fail to transition into small and medium firms, what financial and market constraints keep viable businesses informal, and what combination of finance and business-development services can deliver stronger enterprise outcomes.
Focus on access to productive finance
A key message emerging from the launch was the distinction between general financial access and productive finance for enterprises.
While Uganda has made progress in expanding access to financial services, the ability of individuals to access financial products does not necessarily mean that businesses can obtain financing that is suitable for investment and expansion.
The FinScope Survey will therefore examine whether MSMEs can access the right type of finance, at an appropriate cost and tenor, to support business growth.
This is particularly significant given the financing challenges that continue to affect Uganda’s MSMEs. Government has identified limited access to affordable credit, markets, technology and other business-support services among the constraints facing the sector.
Supporting women, youth and growth-oriented enterprises
The survey will also provide information that can help Government better understand the specific needs of women-owned, youth-owned and growth-oriented enterprises.
According to the framework presented at the launch, the evidence is expected to support more targeted interventions while strengthening enterprise competitiveness, value addition and readiness to participate in regional and global value chains.
This aligns with the Government’s broader Tenfold Growth Strategy, which places emphasis on productivity, value addition, enterprise development, innovation and market expansion.
From survival to sustainable growth
The launch comes as Uganda seeks to move more enterprises from survival-oriented activities towards productive and sustainable businesses capable of creating employment, adding value and accessing larger markets.
Hon. Tanna has previously stressed that Uganda needs to move beyond exporting raw materials and increase investment in value addition, manufacturing, innovation and skills. He has also called for financial institutions to develop financing approaches that respond to productive sectors.
The National MSME FinScope Survey is expected to provide the data needed to better understand the barriers businesses face along this journey, from informality and limited access to finance to inadequate business records, technology gaps, skills constraints and difficulties accessing markets.
A foundation for evidence-based policy
The launch therefore marks an important stage in Uganda’s efforts to place evidence at the centre of MSME policy development.
The findings of the survey are expected to contribute to the review of the MSME Policy 2015 and help Government and its partners design interventions that respond more directly to the needs of enterprises.
With *Hon. Sanjay Tanna serving as Guest of Honour and delivering the keynote address, the launch brought renewed attention to the role of MSMEs in Uganda’s economic transformation* and to the need for stronger collaboration among Government, the private sector and financial institutions.
Ultimately, the success of the exercise will depend on the quality of information collected and how effectively that evidence is translated into practical measures that enable Ugandan enterprises to access finance, formalise, increase productivity, add value, create jobs and compete in regional and global markets.
