KAMPALA, UGANDA – In a significant move to bolster Uganda’s wood products sector, the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) is partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Union (EU), and the Government of Uganda to host a pivotal Stakeholder Engagement Workshop. The event is focused on empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in wood product manufacturing by connecting them with crucial financing solutions and business development support.

This initiative addresses a core challenge for the nation: transforming the wood sector from one often characterized by the export of raw timber and informal operations into a modern, sustainable industry that produces high-value finished goods. The workshop is designed to tackle the primary hurdles that prevent these SMEs from scaling up and achieving their full potential.

For many manufacturers in the furniture, joinery, and broader wood products industry, the path to growth is often blocked by a lack of access to appropriate finance. The workshop will directly address this “bankability gap” through a comprehensive, three-pronged approach:

1. Demystifying the Financial Landscape: Experts will provide SMEs with critical insights into what banks and investors look for when evaluating a business. This includes sessions on financial literacy, proper bookkeeping, and developing compelling business plans that clearly articulate a company’s growth potential and profitability.

2. Building Investment Readiness: The workshop will offer vital Business Development Support (BDS) to help entrepreneurs formalize their operations and strengthen their corporate governance. This “investment readiness” training is crucial for transforming a small workshop into a business that is attractive to formal lenders and investors.

3. Creating Direct Funding Linkages: Moving beyond theory, the event will feature an investor pitch and matchmaking session. This provides a rare and valuable opportunity for prepared SMEs to present their business cases directly to a curated audience of financial institutions, impact investors, and venture capitalists who have a specific interest in the sector.

A Focus on Sustainability

Underpinning the entire initiative is the theme of sustainability. The partners, including the FAO and EU, are championing the use of legally sourced, certified timber to combat deforestation and promote responsible environmental stewardship. For manufacturers, adopting sustainable practices is not only an ethical imperative but also a key market advantage, opening doors to “green finance” opportunities and satisfying the growing demand from consumers for responsibly made products.

By bringing together manufacturers, financiers, and international development partners, this workshop represents a concerted effort to build a robust and sustainable wood value chain in Uganda. It is a vital step toward creating a thriving industrial sector capable of producing high-quality, value-added wood products for both domestic and export markets, thereby driving inclusive growth and creating sustainable employment.