Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The Federation of Uganda Social Enterprises (FUSE) has launched Uganda’s first domestic Social Enterprise Certification and Verification System, aimed at setting national standards for businesses that combine commercial activities with social and environmental impact.
Timothy Mugerwa, president of FUSE, announced the initiative on Thursday, October 29, during a briefing with reporters at Kampala Club, saying the framework would help distinguish genuine social enterprises from conventional businesses.
“This is not a certification product; ours is about evaluation of social enterprises in terms of value,” Mugerwa said.
Under the system, organisations will be assessed against benchmarks that include operational transparency, governance structures that reflect their social purpose, and reinvestment in community or environmental initiatives.
Mugerwa said FUSE was working with internationally certified experts to undertake the evaluations. Asked whether the initiative aligned with Uganda’s legal framework, he said FUSE was incorporated in Uganda and had a mandate to certify social enterprises.
The certification is intended to give social enterprises a way to demonstrate their contribution to communities and the environment while improving their prospects of accessing markets, investment and business partnerships.
Certified enterprises will also be eligible to sell their products and services through the Social Value Marketplace, a digital platform designed to connect businesses with social impact buyers.
FUSE says the framework draws on international standards while taking account of Uganda’s social enterprise sector. It is designed to accommodate different business models, legal structures and stages of growth, with oversight from an expert advisory group.
The rollout follows a development process that included a national certification and verification survey to establish a baseline for the sector. Social enterprises, cooperatives and other eligible organisations can now apply for evaluation through the FUSE certification portal.
Uganda has several businesses and initiatives operating around social and environmental objectives, including Village Energy, Ecobricks in Masaka, Mob- Clinic, Ewaffe Cultural Village and Endiro Coffee.
FUSE says it has about 2,500 members across the country and is engaging the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on developing a policy framework for the sector.
The certification initiative comes as social enterprises seek greater recognition for business models that generate revenue while addressing challenges such as access to energy, healthcare, waste management and community development.
