Annual Financial Inclusion Forum 2025
Officiating at the Annual Financial Inclusion Forum 2025, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija highlighted the significant steps Government of Uganda has undertaken in advancing financial inclusion.
He said wealth creation initiatives including PDM and Emyooga are continuing to drive financial inclusion at grass-root level.
Kasaija said the implementation of Large-Scale Farmers Financing Scheme, the Small Business Recovery Fund, the Agriculture Credit Facility and capitalization of the Uganda Development Bank among others are all aimed at responding to the needs of Ugandans.
The Finance Minister said the Uganda Agriculture Insurance Scheme has disbursed over UGX 40 billion to 885,623 beneficiary farmers, hence insuring agricultural loans worth UGX2.47 trillion.
The Forum was held under the theme: “From Access to Usage: Advancing Inclusive Financial Product Uptake Across Uganda”
Kasaija said the financial sector is a vital enabler of the Tenfold Economic Growth Strategy, adding that Government is committed to addressing the challenges of low savings and high credit costs as set out in the NDP IV and the Vision 2040.
The Minister said this commitment requires concerted efforts to grow deposits within the banking ecosystem and promoting long-term savings in the non -bank sector including pensions and capital markets.
The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi while closing the Forum said Uganda’s financial inclusion journey has been impressive.
“The latest Finscope Report (2023) shows that overall financial inclusion of adults has risen to 81% up from 70% in 2009,” said the PSST, adding that the overall financial inclusion in Uganda is mainly driven by mobile money usage.
He commended the innovators, fintech and financial institutions that are developing innovative products to serve the unserved and underserved.
The Deputy Governor Bank of Uganda, Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba reiterated that financial inclusion should leave no one behind, including youth women and people with disabilities.
He said all financial products should consider the demand side in terms of affordability, trust and user needs.
