Presentation Summary: Alternative FinancingMr. Mazune’s presentation centered on how alternative financing can unlock Uganda’s entrepreneurial potential. He began by noting that SMEs contribute nearly 80% of Uganda’s GDP, yet only 15–20% can access formal credit. According to IFC data, this represents a $31.4 trillion SME financing gap. Maru Credit Limited, founded in 2018, provides flexible products such as school-fees loans, business loans, personal loans, and vehicle asset financing. The company’s approach focuses on relationship-driven lending and assessing business viability rather than documentation alone. “Access to credit represents dignity, opportunity, and the power to transform communities.”
— Joshua Mazune, Maru Credit Limited He emphasized that fair, market-based interest rates reinforce accountability and professionalism, while noting that microfinance institutions struggle to lower rates because their cost of capital remains high (30–40%) due to commercial investor funding. |
