Uganda is among the most entrepreneurial countries in the world. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2019/2020, about 30 percent of Ugandans are starting businesses.
The Ministry of Finance notes that micro, small, and medium enterprises make up more than 90 percent of private sector firms, forming the backbone of the economy. Yet, the 2024 Entrepreneurship Index by the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives shows that only eight percent of businesses survive for 15 years or more, with most lasting less than a decade.
Joshua Pi’Rwot, Country Director of Avoda Group Uganda, says business failures are part of the market cycle. He argues that the real concern is not the number of failed businesses, but whether entrepreneurs are able to recover, learn, and continue building.
‘What we seek to prevent, in our entrepreneurship course, is the loss of the entrepreneur. When a business fails and the entrepreneur gives up entirely, the loss is far greater,’ Pi’Rwot says.
He notes that many successful entrepreneurs do not succeed in their first, second, or even third ventures. Avoda’s programme equips participants with the tools and mindset to navigate failure, conduct honest post-mortems, and apply lessons to subsequent ventures.
Lazarus Mugabi, proprietor of Mission Real Estate and Development and a board member at Avoda, says business is best done with others. Reflecting on his own experience, he recalls the struggles of trying to go it alone.
‘It was lonely. It was frustrating. Along the way, I learned an important lesson: while I may need to go, I cannot go alone. I must go with others,’ Mugabi says.
Ruth Ndwiga, a human resource practitioner, adds that every entrepreneur needs a supportive community. She encourages graduates to return to Avoda whenever they feel burnt out, noting that the programme continues to mentor and support entrepreneurs even after graduation.
Investor readiness and accountability
One of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs in Uganda is attracting investment. Many lack the skills to pitch effectively or the financial track record to secure funding. Avoda addresses this challenge with a credit-scoring system that tracks participant behaviour, commitment, and performance. This system provides potential investors with a deeper understanding of an entrepreneur’s reliability.
Pi’Rwot explains that the programme tracks performance through tests, quizzes, attendance, and execution of tasks, offering evidence of the entrepreneur’s dedication to growth. Tuition payments and active participation are also logged, creating a behavioural record over time.
‘Attendance, tuition payments, and participation are logged, creating a record over time. The purpose is not punitive, but evidential. By the end of the programme, Avoda can introduce entrepreneurs to its investor network not merely as individuals with ideas, but as individuals whose behaviour has been observed and documented,’ he says.
While investors still conduct their own due diligence, this system adds credibility and can help entrepreneurs secure investment that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Joshua Muhango, an animator and programme graduate, says Avoda focuses on accelerating the entrepreneur rather than the business. ‘When the individual is developed, they are better equipped to succeed across multiple ventures,’ he explains.
Mugabi advises participants to value the relationships they cultivate. ‘Our clients came through people who trusted us, refined us, and recommended us. Your time is different, with wider access and richer networks. Do not walk this journey alone,’ he tells graduates.
Faith, values, and inclusion
Avoda operates from a Christian worldview, reflected in its teaching approach, faculty, and team culture. However, the programme is not restricted to Christian entrepreneurs. Participants over the years have included people of various belief systems, including agnostics and atheists.
Pi’Rwot says anyone is welcome, provided they are comfortable engaging with a programme delivered from a Christian perspective. ‘The emphasis is not on exclusion, but on clarity about the values and lens through which the programme is run,’ he notes.
Building resilience through experience
The programme emphasises learning from failure as a pathway to long-term success. Pi’Rwot says the goal is not just to equip entrepreneurs for their current venture, but to build resilience for the challenges ahead.
‘Many entrepreneurs fail, particularly in the early stages. The key is to survive, learn, and apply those lessons to the next venture. Entrepreneurial capability compounds over time,’ he says.
Graduates like Mugabi and Muhango demonstrate that networks, mentorship, and mindset development are as important as financial capital. Mugabi stresses that opportunities often come from those you serve and support, rather than those you chase. ‘Your breakthrough often sits next to you. Build relationships, add value, and people will open doors for you,’ he advises.
For Avoda, the focus is clear: empower entrepreneurs to navigate challenges, learn from setbacks, and continue building sustainable ventures. With structured mentorship, behavioural tracking, and an emphasis on community, graduates leave equipped not just to start a business, but to thrive as resilient, capable entrepreneurs in Uganda’s dynamic economy.