Uganda Capital Markets Authority outlines role for bonds equity and private capital in export finance

The Uganda Capital Markets Authority published an article setting out how capital markets could help finance the country’s exporters, particularly where bank lending is short-term, costly or difficult for small and medium enterprises to access. In the commentary, the authority argues that exporters need funding to buy inputs, process goods, meet standards, ship products and bridge the period between shipment and payment, and says capital markets can provide a broader and potentially longer-term source of funding. The article points to corporate bonds and public equity issuance as options for larger exporters seeking capital to expand production, invest in processing and enter new markets. For SMEs with export potential, it highlights dedicated SME financing platforms, venture capital and private equity funds as possible sources of growth financing. The authority links this financing mix to Uganda’s broader aim of shifting from raw material exports toward more value-added exports such as processed coffee, packaged foods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, manufactured goods and services, while mobilising domestic savings into productive investment. No new regulatory measure or timetable was announced. The publication is framed as an explanatory piece on how capital market instruments could support export-led growth.