Bank of Uganda Hosts 2025 Financial Inclusion Forum

7 November 2025, 10:01 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Bank of Uganda (BoU), in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, yesterday hosted the Annual Financial Inclusion Forum 2025 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. The event aimed to provide a platform for discussions on advancing inclusive finance under the theme “Access to Usage: Advancing Inclusive Financial Product Uptake in Uganda.”

The forum brought together key stakeholders from Uganda’s banking and finance sectors to discuss strategies for expanding financial access and promoting inclusive growth.

Addressing participants, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija commended the Bank and its partners for organizing the forum, pledging continued government support toward inclusive financial development.

“I want to thank the Bank of Uganda and partners for organizing this forum. My ministry is committed to supporting such initiatives. Over the last ten years, we have dispatched UGX 11 trillion to fund government development programs such as Emyooga, PDM, and the Grow Project,” Kasaija said.

Deputy Governor Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba emphasized that financial inclusion is both an economic necessity and a moral imperative, reaffirming BoU’s commitment to a financial system that leaves no Ugandan behind.

Pearl Bank CEO Julius Kakeeto highlighted sustainability and innovation as key drivers of inclusion, urging financial institutions to focus on the needs of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and farmersgroups often excluded from formal finance.

“To succeed, we must start by understanding people and their businesses before designing solutions. Technology should drive access, but the onboarding process must be simple. MSMEs and farmers depend on seasonal income; credit terms should match their cycles, not the bank’s calendar,” Kakeeto noted. “With climate change affecting smallholder farmers, we must integrate risk mitigants and support climate-smart practices.”

In his closing remarks, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, called for evidence-based discussions and practical financial literacy interventions.

“Stop discussing opinions. Discuss based on researched facts. Financial literacy is effective when lessons are practical, timely, and context-specific,” Ggoobi said.

One of the participants, Ms. Brenda Akayo, lauded BoU for organizing the event but urged the Bank to simplify its services for all Ugandans.

“Many people in remote areas face challenges like language barriers. BoU should set up outreach teams to teach people in their local languages about the services available and how to benefit from them,” she appealed.

The 2025 Financial Inclusion Forum concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to accelerate Uganda’s journey toward an inclusive and sustainable financial system.