By David Mwanje
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Hi-Innovator Program, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has exceeded its job creation target, generating over 202,000 jobs against a goal of 132,000, officials announced at a dissemination workshop at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala Today. Launched in 2020 as a five-year initiative to foster entrepreneurship and create dignified work opportunities for Uganda’s youth, the program has funded 438 businesses and trained 81,073 individuals, surpassing its target of 75,000. With plans to expand and support at least 1,000 additional startups by 2030, the Hi-Innovator Program is transforming Uganda’s entrepreneurial ecosystem while addressing challenges in gender inclusivity and business sustainability.
The program’s success, validated by an independent evaluation from Ipsos, lies in its holistic approach, combining seed funding, entrepreneurial training, and technical support through a network of 12 Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) led by Outbox.
Patrick Ayota, NSSF Managing Director, highlighted the program’s mission saying, “We aimed to create job opportunities for young Ugandans and support them in growing sustainable businesses.” To date, 438 businesses have received seed funding of up to $20,000 each, with agriculture and manufacturing leading in job creation.
These businesses have created 8,508 new jobs, 90% for youth and 57% for young women, averaging seven jobs per seed-funded business compared to 5.8 for supported businesses. Additionally, learners with businesses generated 15,076 jobs, 91% for youth and 62% for women, while 1,996 pre-existing jobs were sustained, primarily in agriculture.
Despite exceeding its overall job creation target, the program faced challenges in gender inclusivity and NSSF compliance. Of the 148,000 jobs created for youth, only 31,990 went to women, achieving 35% of the 92,400 target. Direct job creation reached 38,563 positions (88% of the 44,000 goal), with women holding 15,292 of these, meeting 50% of their specific target. Indirect jobs totaled 163,760, far surpassing the 88,000 goal, but only 16,698 went to women, reaching 27% of the 61,600 target.
On compliance, 438 businesses registered with NSSF, but only 340 consistently remitted contributions, achieving 68% of the 500 target, with total remittances of 1.72 billion Ugandan shillings ($460,000) as of June 27, 2025. Lindah Nsabagwa, Ipsos lead evaluator, noted that while the program excelled in overall employment, direct job creation for women and consistent NSSF contributions remain areas for improvement.
The Hi-Innovator Program also evaluated “dignified and fulfilling work” (D&F) for youth aged 18-35, with 22,220 accessing such opportunities, achieving 51% of the 44,000 target. Women constituted 35% of this group, with younger women (18-24) facing greater barriers due to early career instability.
Despite 64% of participants meeting D&F markers like reliable income and respect at work, 19% cited income barriers as a challenge. Businesses reported obstacles to job creation and sustainability, including lack of working capital (36%), unskilled labor (25%), salary payment difficulties (11%), poor market conditions (7%), and delayed customer payments (2%).
Looking ahead, NSSF plans to establish a dedicated fund to support Hi-Innovator businesses, collaborating with funders to enable scaling. “This approach allows us to grow together with these businesses,” Ayota said, emphasizing sustainability over the next decade. The Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, aiming to empower 30 million young Africans by 2030, aligns with these goals, particularly for young women. Outbox’s Richard Zulu underscored the importance of long-term technical support, with five-year contracts ensuring sustained assistance. With its achievements and ambitious expansion plans, the Hi-Innovator Program is poised to further strengthen Uganda’s entrepreneurial landscape, fostering inclusive growth and economic resilience.
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