As Uganda accelerates the implementation of its Agriculture, Tourism, Minerals and Science & Technology (ATMS) strategy, Pearl Bank is strengthening its position as one of the country’s leading financiers of commercial agriculture, providing critical capital to farmers, agribusinesses and agricultural enterprises driving economic transformation.
With agriculture employing more than 70% of Uganda’s population, access to affordable financing remains one of the sector’s biggest constraints, limiting investments in mechanisation, irrigation, processing and value addition that are essential for increasing productivity and incomes.
Pearl Bank has responded by strategically expanding financing across the entire agricultural value chain, aligning its lending model with the government’s ambition of transforming subsistence farming into competitive, market-oriented commercial enterprises capable of serving domestic, regional and international markets.
The bank’s impact is already being felt on the ground.
Equator Seeds Limited, one of Pearl Bank’s beneficiaries, says the financing enabled it to purchase foundation seed, invest in irrigation systems and mechanisation, and expand farmer training programmes. The investments have significantly boosted production while improving incomes for both the company and the farming communities it supports.
The intervention comes at a time when government is placing agriculture at the centre of Uganda’s long-term economic growth strategy.
According to the 2026/27 National Budget, the Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF) has cumulatively disbursed Shs1.35 trillion to more than 14,000 beneficiaries, while the Small Business Fund has extended over Shs82 billion to more than 4,000 enterprises.
Government has also committed Shs41 billion annually to support interest payments for large-scale commercial farmers cultivating more than 50 acres of grain and animal feed, reinforcing efforts to increase productivity and strengthen food security.
Earlier, while presenting the 2025/26 national budget, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi revealed that government had invested Shs371.1 billion in the Agricultural Credit Facility as co-financing with participating financial institutions, alongside the Shs41 billion provision under the Large-Scale Commercial Financing Scheme.
As one of the participating financial institutions in these government-backed financing programmes, Pearl Bank has become an important channel for delivering affordable capital to farmers and agribusinesses, accelerating Uganda’s transition towards commercially viable agriculture.
The bank’s extensive national footprint further strengthens that role.
With more than 11,500 banking agents operating across 1,935 sub-counties and serving over 6,150 parishes nationwide, Pearl Bank has established one of Uganda’s deepest rural financial networks, bringing financial services closer to farming communities and underserved entrepreneurs.
Its contribution has not gone unnoticed.
In April this year, the bank received recognition from the Bank of Uganda for its outstanding partnership and responsiveness in implementing both the Agricultural Credit Facility and Small Business Fund schemes, which have played a significant role in advancing Uganda’s agricultural and business sectors in line with the National Development Plan IV and the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
The central bank’s recognition further cements Pearl Bank’s reputation as a strategic partner in delivering government’s ATMS agenda and supporting the commercialisation of agriculture as a key engine of economic growth.
The recognition followed another major industry accolade earlier this year when Pearl Bank was named Uganda’s Best Agri-SME Lender by Aceli Africa during the Aceli Uganda Stakeholder Roundtable in Kampala.
The awards coincide with strong portfolio growth, with Pearl Bank reporting a 24% increase in its agribusiness loan book in 2025 compared to 2024, driven by increased lending to farmers, cooperatives, processors, traders and agricultural SMEs.
Speaking after receiving the Aceli Africa award, Pearl Bank Supervisor for Agriculture & Partnerships Julius Akais said the recognition reflected the institution’s commitment to closing financing gaps across Uganda’s agricultural value chains.
“The awards signify the contributions Pearl Bank has made to agricultural financing in Uganda and perfectly align with our purpose of fostering prosperity for Ugandans, which is implemented through our two high-impact goals of driving sustainable financial inclusion and stimulating entrepreneurship and enterprise,” Akais said.
The bank’s momentum comes as government doubles down on agriculture-led growth under the 2026/27 Budget, reaffirming its commitment to the full monetisation of Uganda’s economy through commercial agriculture, industrialisation, digital transformation and expanded market access.