UIBFS

Menu

Grants

Partial Grant Financing for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency technologies

The Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme (PREEEP) is implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German government in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD). The programme, through its market development initiative, supports demand – side SMEs to improve their access to finance for investment in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency technologies through technical assistance, bankable proposal development, and linkage to RE/EE financing.

 

PREEEP in a strategic partnership with the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) aims to improve access to finance through:

 

  1. Innovative financing mechanisms that promote energy access by the energy demand side e.g. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  2. Unlocking domestic capital for investment from the energy supply side i.e. financial institutions.

UIBFS continues to build capacities of financial institutions through piloting and improving knowledge within local financial institutions in the provision of lending instruments. This will improve the uptake of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency technologies and services within high-risk SMEs in Northern Uganda and other selected areas.

 

SMEs are widely considered as key engines of economic growth in developing countries.  In Uganda, SMEs employ approximately 2.5 million people and make up approximately 90% of private sector employment. They contribute 20% of Gross Domestic Product and produce 80% of Uganda’s manufactured output. Despite the significant contribution to GDP by the MSMEs, access to finance remains a challenge across all sectors which limits them from being sustainable and competitive.

 

The partial grant implemented by UIBFS on behalf of GIZ PREEEP aims to tackle some of the prevalent challenges such as access to reliable and affordable energy, high upfront cost of energy technologies, high loan interest rates from financial institutions (Banks and SACCOs) among others.

Successful eligible SME applicants shall have their capital investment for the desired RE/ EE asset financed up to 50% through the partial grant while the rest of the investment is to be raised by the SMEs through credit applications to financial institutions or own financing. The grant has a maximum cap contribution of UGX 50 million.

 

Prior to the funding, the applicants shall receive technical assistance through energy audits to enable them to establish accurate equipment specification and financial forecasts to come up with bankable proposals that can be used to source for the remaining funds not covered by the grant.

  1. Renewable Energy Technologies: Solar PV systems (1.5 – 50kWp), Solar water heaters, Solar dryers, among others
  2. Energy efficient technologies: LED retrofits, capacitor banks, Clean cooking applications, efficient industrial and machinery equipment (milling equipment, motors, chillers, boilers, compressors, pumps, refrigerators etc.), voltage stabilizers, variable frequency drives, among others

 Only technologies recommended by the energy audit findings shall be funded.

The interested applicants should be / have:

 

  • Compliant and formal business; an SME should be formally registered with URSB, with full compliance requirements (tax compliance, operating license, etc.), and, at least, above 2 years of operation.
  • Social considerations such as gender issues are critical as women-owned, or women led SMEs (at least 20% females in key leadership) as well as SMEs with integration / ownership by People with Disabilities are encouraged to apply.
  • Belong to any of the SME targeted sectors; Agro processors such as Millers & diaries, bakeries, manufacturing and fabrication, carpentry, small packaging plants, printing & publishing, small food/beverage manufacturing, social institutions such as hotels, schools and health facilities among others.
  • Belongs to any of the 32 districts from Northern Uganda (Acholi, Lango and West Nile) 
  • SMEs who have either 3 phase connections or minimum energy costs of UGX 500,000 per month.

                                                   OR

 
  • Please fill in the provided Expression of Interest (EOI) form (scans also accepted) and submit it to: grants@uib.or.ug and indicating in the subject line “EOI for UIBFS Partial Grant Financing”

The deadline for submission of applications is 20th June 2026.

 

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, first come, first evaluated, first financed.

Request for clarification/questions regarding this call should be sent to grants@uib.or.ug indicating in the subject line “Request for clarification: EOI for Partial Grant Financing or call: 0783997337