The Real Reason Businesses in Uganda Fail

From Uber's exit to a Kikuubo shop shutter: why do businesses in Uganda fail? We look past "no capital" at the real economics of Ugandan small business. On 2 September 2026, Uber wound down its operations in Uganda after ten years in Kampala. The same year, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) struck tens of thousands of companies off the register, and Twaweza's national survey shows that more than half of the businesses Ugandans started in five years had closed. Most owners blame a lack of capital. We look at the evidence: necessity entrepreneurship, Kampala's "copy and paste" business culture, 19% lending rates, the EFRIS tax fights in Kikuubo, and the family-money problem behind most small-business deaths, with Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) data showing fewer than 1 in 10 family firms outlive their founder. If you're in the diaspora sending money home to start a business, this one is about your money too. Topics & Concepts Kampala Urban Economics, Kampala Hustle Culture, Uganda Personal Finance, Ugandan Diaspora Life, Uber Uganda, URSB, Kikuubo, Twaweza, EPRC, KACITA Kati Naffe: Uganda's culture and money, explained. New breakdowns every week. Subscribe:    / @katinaffe   #UberUganda #SmallBusiness #Uganda Disclaimer: Commentary and analysis for educational purposes. Opinions are the channel's own. Claims are sourced above; where something is unconfirmed, we say so. Figures as of October 2026.