Lugaire Francis – Growing Through Financial Empowerment
Lugaire Francis, a dedicated entrepreneur from Jinja, is one of the many individuals whose lives have been transformed through Africente Microfinance’s Micro to Medium Enterprise Loan Program. Through this initiative, Francis accessed his first loan of UGX 1,000,000, which he used to start a small poultry business.
With the financing, Francis purchased day-old chicks and quality feeds, and began constructing a modest poultry shelter. Within a few months, he had grown his first flock, gained practical experience in poultry management, and started selling eggs and mature birds to local markets. This provided him with a steady income that helped meet his family’s basic needs, improve household nutrition, and support his children’s education.
Recognizing his commitment and business potential, Africente continued to support Francis with additional loans and ongoing financial literacy training. This support enabled him to expand his poultry farm, improve feeding systems, and invest in better housing for his birds, which reduced losses and increased productivity.
Today, Francis’ poultry enterprise has grown into a reliable source of income, creating small employment opportunities for youth in his community. His journey demonstrates how access to affordable and flexible financing can empower individuals to build sustainable livelihoods and drive local economic growth.
At Africente, we are proud to walk alongside clients like Francis — supporting them not just with credit, but also with mentorship, follow-up, and business development guidance that ensures long-term success. His story is a testament to our mission: empowering communities through inclusive finance and enterprise development.
Najanzi Faith – Growing Prosperity Through Financial Inclusion
Najanzi Faith, a member of Twisakilala AfriGroup, is a shining example of how Africente Microfinance’s financial inclusion model is transforming lives and communities. Living in a rural area, Faith had previously been unable to access credit from formal financial institutions due to the lack of collateral and traditional security requirements.
Through Africente’s innovative AfriGroup lending model, Faith was able to access a loan of UGX 900,000 without the need for collateral. She invested the funds into her small-scale agricultural enterprise, focusing on vegetables, greens, and tomatoes. With this capital, she purchased improved seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation supplies, allowing her to increase productivity and stabilize her farming operations.
Before joining Africente, Faith could only produce about one box of tomatoes per season, earning roughly UGX 100,000. After receiving the loan and technical guidance from Africente, her production expanded to ten boxes of tomatoes per season, increasing her earnings to over UGX 1,000,000. This growth has significantly improved her household income, enabling her to meet family needs, support her children’s education, and reinvest in her farm.
Faith’s success illustrates the power of financial inclusion in unlocking potential and creating opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs. By removing barriers to credit and providing ongoing business support, Africente Microfinance empowers clients like Faith to move from survival to sustainability.
Today, Faith continues to inspire other women in her community to embrace group lending and entrepreneurship. Her journey is a powerful reminder that when women are given access to finance, entire families and communities thrive.
At Africente, we are proud that 70% of our clients are women, and stories like Faith’s reaffirm our mission to drive inclusive economic growth through accessible and responsible financial services.
