Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) has launched a nationwide retailer empowerment programme targeting more than 1,500 small business owners with training in financial management, digital skills and business sustainability. The initiative, dubbed Growing Retailers Innovatively Together (GRIT), was officially rolled out in Kampala’s Makindye Division, where over 300 bar owners, stockists and retail managers attended the first training session. The programme comes at a time when many small businesses continue to face challenges related to financial management, inventory control and adapting to an increasingly digital business environment.
Speaking at the launch, NBL Managing Director Nkanyiso Mncwabe said strengthening retailers is critical not only for the company’s distribution network but also for Uganda’s economic development.
“Retailers are the backbone of our route to market and a significant contributor to local economic activity. We want to equip them with practical skills that enable them to build stronger, more resilient businesses,” He said.
The training covers key areas including financial literacy, stock management, sales and marketing, responsible retailing, digital adoption and long-term business planning. According to NBL, the latest phase of GRIT builds on earlier editions that trained more than 1,560 retailers across Uganda in 2024 and 2025.
This year’s programme introduces a new financial inclusion component through a partnership with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), aimed at helping retailers embrace a culture of saving and retirement planning. Under the arrangement, participants will receive training on social security and financial planning and will be introduced to NSSF SmartLife Flexi, a voluntary savings product designed for workers in the informal sector.
NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota said many entrepreneurs remain excluded from formal retirement savings despite their contribution to the country’s economy.
“Small business owners and traders play a vital role in Uganda’s growth, yet many lack structured social protection. Through this partnership, we are bringing social security services closer to them and helping them prepare for the future,” Ayota said.
He noted that NSSF SmartLife Flexi has registered more than 81,000 members who have collectively saved over Shs126 billion since its launch 13 months ago. The initiative is also being implemented in partnership with MTN Mobile Money to enhance digital financial inclusion among retailers.
NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota 
NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota
MTN MoMo Corporate Sales Manager John Isabirye said digital payment solutions are becoming increasingly important for small businesses seeking efficiency and security.
“Retailers need convenient and secure ways to transact. Digital financial tools help reduce risks associated with cash handling while improving business management and customer convenience,” Isabirye said.
Data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics indicates that small and medium enterprises account for nearly 90 per cent of Uganda’s private sector businesses, employ over 2.5 million people and contribute about 20 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
For participating retailers, the programme offers practical solutions to everyday business challenges, including cash-flow management, stock monitoring, customer service improvement and business expansion planning.
One beneficiary of an earlier GRIT training programme said the knowledge acquired helped improve record-keeping and financial discipline.
“The training changed how I run my business. I now separate personal and business finances, track stock more effectively and make better decisions about growth,” the retailer said.
Mncwabe said NBL intends to expand the programme further as part of its broader commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth.
“We want retailers to become more financially secure, digitally empowered and better positioned to grow. Through partnerships such as those with NSSF and MTN MoMo, we are providing support that goes beyond business training,” he said.
The GRIT programme is expected to be rolled out across various regions of the country over the course of the year, reaching hundreds of retailers operating within Uganda’s informal and formal trading sectors.
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