By Solomon Lubambula/ KmaUpdates
Over 60% of corporates across the country have limited knowledge of sustainable finance principles a gap that calls for capacity building if Uganda is to achieve economic growth amid changing environmental conditions.
To address this knowledge gap, abi Finance Limited, in partnership with the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS), has launched a Sustainable Finance Curriculum.
Speaking at the launch in Kampala, economists emphasized the importance of equipping bankers with appropriate knowledge in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to ensure sustainable financing and overall economic growth.
According to Mona Ssebuliba, the CEO of abi Finance Limited, the newly launched curriculum will go a long way in equipping bankers with relevant knowledge to strengthen ongoing efforts toward financial inclusion and environmental protection.
“This curriculum will help players in the financial sector build staff capacity to promote sustainability, particularly in green financing, while aligning their activities and objectives with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Uganda’s Economic Growth Strategy,” said Ssebuliba.
The curriculum provides a critical blueprint for aligning financial practices with national development goals and international sustainability mandates. Its launch marks a significant step toward embedding long-term sustainability into Uganda’s banking and investment practices.
Ssebuliba added that the program will build on the gains already achieved in promoting green financing and adopting ESG principles within the financial sector.
Gorreti Masadde, CEO of the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services, revealed that only about 25% of corporate organizations currently have a reasonable understanding of ESG principles. She expressed optimism that the implementation of the new curriculum would change this trend.
Masadde explained that the curriculum includes key units such as Environmental Considerations in Sustainable Finance, Sustainable Finance Products and Services, and Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Finance, among others.
It also features a unit on Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification for Sustainable Finance, which will help organizations comply with international reporting standards and address the issue of greenwashing.
She further noted that the curriculum will be implemented at various levels of education — from Certificate and Diploma to Bachelor’s Degree programs — empowering financial professionals to guide business owners on environmentally responsible practices. This, she said, will ultimately boost productivity and profitability.
Masadde added that although the curriculum is still in its early stages, awaiting the development of full content, it is not restricted to bankers or corporate entities alone. Rather, it is open to all Ugandans interested in providing services sustainably and contributing to the protection of the environment.
Referring to the recent floods that wreaked havoc on traders in downtown Kampala, Masadde urged non-financial actors to also acquire sustainability knowledge to collaborate effectively with financial professionals and positively influence key investment decisions.