Pearl Bank has been named Best Agri-SME Lender at the Aceli Africa Uganda Stakeholder Roundtable, in a recognition that underscores the bank’s growing influence in agricultural financing.
The bank’s Supervisor for Agriculture & Partnerships, Julius Akais, was also honored individually as the Agri-SME Lending Champion for his role in expanding credit access to agribusinesses.
The awards were presented during a high-level convening held on February 11, 2026, in Kampala, where Aceli Africa brought together about 100 stakeholders to reflect on five years of advancing agri-SME finance in Uganda and to outline priorities for the next phase under Aceli 2.0 (2026–2030).
Participants at the roundtable included representatives from the Bank of Uganda, the Uganda Bankers Association, commercial banks, impact investors, technical assistance providers and development partners.
Discussions focused on lessons from Aceli’s 2020–2025 journey, persistent structural challenges in agricultural lending, and policy priorities to strengthen Uganda’s enabling environment for agri-SME finance.
Driving growth in agricultural lending
Pearl Bank, which rebranded from PostBank Uganda last year, was recognized for its sustained efforts in supporting smallholder farmers and agribusinesses through tailored and innovative financial solutions.
Speaking after receiving the award, Pearl Bank Managing Director Julius Kakeeto said the recognition affirms the bank’s commitment to closing the financing gap in agriculture, a sector that employs the majority of Ugandans and remains central to food security and export growth.
“The bank’s commitment to sustainable agriculture financing has yielded approximately 180% growth in our agricultural portfolio since 2020,” Kakeeto said.
“This has been made possible by innovative lending solutions and tailored products such as seasonal working capital loans, risk-sharing facilities, and financing partnerships aligned with government initiatives like the Agriculture Credit Facility.”
He added that these interventions have enabled underserved rural communities to adopt climate-smart practices and scale their operations.
Championing Agri-SME Finance
A key highlight of the ceremony was the individual recognition of Julius Akais as Agri-SME Lending Champion.
Akais was commended for his leadership in de-risking agribusiness lending and forging strategic partnerships that have widened access to finance for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs.
I&M Bank recommits to partnership with Kabaka Birthday Run 13th edition to further the fight against HIV/AIDSHis work has contributed to Pearl Bank’s deeper integration into agricultural value chains and strengthened collaboration with development finance partners.
Aceli’s impact and the road ahead
Since launching operations in Uganda in 2020, Aceli Africa has partnered with 19 financial institutions and mobilized $101 million through more than 1,500 loans.
These investments have supported over 350,000 smallholder farmers and workers and contributed to $514 million in crop purchases and wages.
More than half of supported SMEs meet higher standards for women’s and youth economic opportunities, while over 50% of loans have gone to borrowers accessing financing above $25,000 for the first time.
Looking ahead to 2026–2030, Aceli 2.0 aims to better align technical assistance with capital supply and deepen long-term market sustainability, reinforcing the role of commercial lenders in agricultural transformation.
Broader recognition and strategic shift
The latest recognition adds to Pearl Bank’s growing list of accolades.
In 2025, the bank received the Agricultural Financing and Fintech Partnership Award at the Annual Bankers Awards and earned five accolades and 11 certificates at the Bank of Uganda’s Agriculture Credit Facility (ACF) and Small Business Recovery Fund (SBRF) awards, emerging as the best-performing bank under both schemes.
September last year also marked a milestone when the bank secured a global sustainability certification from the European Organization for Sustainable Development (EOSD), reinforcing its commitment to responsible and inclusive banking.
The rebrand from PostBank Uganda to Pearl Bank represents more than a name change.
It signals a strategic repositioning aimed at leveraging opportunities across Uganda and the wider region, while advancing its mission of fostering prosperity through sustainable financial inclusion and entrepreneurship support.
With agriculture remaining the backbone of Uganda’s economy, Pearl Bank’s latest recognition places it firmly among the key financial institutions shaping the future of agri-SME finance in the country.
