, Author at EFC Uganda

4Nov2022

Simbula Loans Ne EFC – Campaign Stars for April – June 2022

SIMBULA LOANS NE EFC – CAMPAIGN STARS FOR APRIL – JUNE 2022.

On Friday the 8^th of July 2022, EFC (U) Ltd held a town hall breakfast meeting to recognize and award the top sellers and collectors for the months of April and June 2022 for the Simbula loans ne EFC Campaign.

Launched in April 2022, The Simbula loans ne EFC Campaign has been running for the past 3 months across all branches. The target of the campaign was to extend loans of worth 13.5 B to Ugandans. The Sales team has been a key group to seeing the success this initiate.

At EFC Uganda, appreciating talent and hard work is part of our human capital strategy. It stems from this that a total of 13 staff from the Sales and Recoveries departments where awarded with shopping vouchers worth 100,000 UGX each. Emerging the best in recoveries with a total collection of 236 M, Edward Nsereko happily walked away with a trophy.

The campaign is ongoing until August 2022; this presents the winners and the rest of the team with an opportunity to work harder than before. While thanking the team and those named the first 3 months campaign stars during the awards breakfast, EFC Uganda Ltd‘s Managing Director, Shem Edmond Kakembo emphasized that “ It’s important that we strategically work to fully hit the target of UGX 16 BN in the next months. We pledge to continue recognizing and appreciating the best talent.”

Our 2025 vision is to become the leading SME financial institution in Uganda and this will be possible through consistent team work.

19May2022

EFC Uganda’s MD – Mr. Shem Edmond Kakembo Appointed as the New Treasurer of UBA

EFC UGANDA’s MANAGING DIRECTOR – MR. SHEM EDMOND KAKEMBO APPOINTED AS THE NEW TREASURER, UGANDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION (UBA)

We are happy to share that our very own, Mr. Shem Edmond Kakembo has been appointed as the new Treasurer for Uganda Bankers Association, an umbrella organization for financial institutions licensed and supervised by Bank of Uganda.

Mr. Shem E. Kakembo is a certified retail banker, accountant, and professional leader from the Wharton School of Business (USA) with over 20 years of working experience and expertise in the financial industry.

As Managing Director of EFC Uganda Limited (MDI), one of the leading SME financial institutions in Uganda, his exceptional leadership has steered the growth and success of the organization over the last 4 years.

Shem kicked off his banking career in 2003 with Finance Trust Bank, joined World Vision USA, Vision Fund & later Stanbic Bank for over 5 years all in different leadership roles.

He is passionate about people, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and the overall issues of finance & economics.

We are excited to see his great contribution to UBA throughout his tenure.

29Oct2021

Why you should have to pay money back

My name is Caroline. I’m an entrepreneur.

Eight years ago, I was looking for a loan to renovate. After visiting several banks, and always being told to ‘come back tomorrow’, I was fed up and about to give up, until I ran into an EFC signpost. There, I explained my needs to the loan officer I got the loan within three days!

That first loan was for 1.5 million Ugandan shillings (about EUR 350). I’m currently paying back my 8^th loan, this one of UGX 30 million (about EUR 7,200). I have great plans and will apply for a new and bigger loan when the current one is paid back.

Originally from the border region with Kenya, for 15 years, I have been living in Kireka, a suburb of Kampala. Out of my four children, one is working for Solar Now Uganda, selling solar energy solutions, one is working in Kenya and two are still in school.

There is work for those that want it. If you are willing to put in the time, you can earn your way – little by little.

Caroline Cherotic, entrepreneur

I am an entrepreneur. I made my starting capital selling chapatis and mobile money [financial transactions using a mobile phone ] in a kiosk. With that capital, I bought some unfinished property to rent out to local workers and students of a nearby university.

I used my first loans to renovate my apartments, turning what had been little more than walls and dirt floors into cosy living spaces, with light, power and tiled bathrooms and toilets and covered verandas. Where I originally asked UGX 50,000 for two rooms (about EUR 12), now, I charge 350,000 (about EUR 84). Many of my tenants are from the university – one of my rooms is rented out to the headmaster of another school.

It’s a point of pride for me that I earn enough to take care of myself and my children, that I keep up with loan payments and still set something aside.

One of the biggest problems Ugandan people face, I believe, is a lack of financial savviness and follow-through. People will get loans – from either local banks or international sources – and then promptly forget why they got it. They will spend it on luxuries – like make-up, clothes or even extra meat – and end up incapable of paying back the capital of the loan, let alone the interests. They forget that the money wasn’t theirs. They will then feel obliged to take out another loan to pay for the first one, and so on and so forth. For me, this can only end one way: in destitution or corruption – and neither one is good for the people or the country.

For me, it’s simple. You get the money for a particular purpose, so that’s what you use it for. For example, I will lend money to invest in my apartments, for which I can then charge more. You spend the money so that you’ll be able to earn it back, setting it aside whenever possible. The capital isn’t to be touched – the profits will be used for food or will go to the bank for a rainy day. That’s the way I’ve always done it, and my success proves the validity of these simple guidelines.

Women can be strong.

They can work like a man – if not better.

I’m an independent woman. Married to a soldier, always off who-knows-where, I cannot count on getting any support from that end – whether he sends money home or not, my children and I need to eat. Running a chapati stand, they are never hungry. Many women, I believe, depend too much on their man, letting it spoil their business. With me, it was always just between me and EFC Bank. And we get along just fine.

BIO has invested in EFC Uganda, a microfinance deposit-taking institution, both directly and through Africinvest Financial Sector.

Caroline Cherotic is one of EFC Uganda’s many clients. This is her story.

25Mar2021

Personal finance tips every entrepreneur should know.

Personal Finance Tips Every Entrepreneur Should Know

Being an entrepreneur is a lot more demanding — both physically and mentally — than most people think. The majority of entrepreneurs work far more than 40 hours a week, and most don’t make nearly as much money as they would if they were working a corporate job in a comparable field. Entrepreneurs are also responsible for all of their financial obligations outside of the business, including insurance, savings and retirement. While it can be easy to remain laser-focused on your business, it’s important to look to the future and plan accordingly.

Eventually, retirement will face you head-on, and if you aren’t prepared, it could be a rude awakening. There are also surprises that you could face while running your business that you need to be prepared for. Being prepared for the worst-case scenario is always the best approach.The entrepreneurial path can be rewarding, and it can also be extremely stressful and full of challenges. Here are some personal finance tipsthat will help you navigate the entrepreneurial journey and prepare you for the future, as well as protect you along the way.

Create a personal monthly budget

It’s important to be disciplined when it comes to your finances, especially when you are starting a business. The leaner you can run both your business and your personal life, the more money you can continue to roll back into the business and fuel its growth. Many entrepreneurs focus on looking successful rather than becoming successful. Avoid large homes, fancy cars, expensive dining and other unnecessary expenses.

Create a budget containing the bare necessities along with a little extra for entertainment (you have to get out and enjoy yourself on occasion)! When you have a set plan and stick to it, you set yourself and your business up for success.

Invest in quality insurance products

When you are your own boss, that leaves all outside responsibilities on your shoulders, and one of the most important is insurance. Don’t try to take shortcuts when it comes to protecting yourself and your business.Get a strong health insurance policy that covers you and your family, and be sure to have life and disability insurance in place. It is always better to prepare for the worst possible situations rather than try to save a few shillings.

One thing many entrepreneurs overlook is business insurance. It doesn’t matter if you have a global business with thousands of employees and you are selling millions of physical products a month, or you are a solopreneur. Protect yourself with a business insurance policy that covers liability for whatever it is you sell.

Allocate money towards an emergency fund monthly

Most business owners don’t have a reserve saved up that would allow them to operate for several months without revenue coming in. The COVID-19 situation forced a lot of businesses to close for good because they couldn’t keep the lights on. Put money into a business savings account each month. Hopefully, you will never have to touch these funds, and they will continue to build over time. But, in the unfortunate event of an emergency, the savings will help you stay above water.

It’s also a good idea to have at the very least 3 months’ worth of operational expenses saved up to cover everything, assuming there will be no incoming revenue. If you can, 6 months of reserves is ideal.

Avoid personal debt at all costs

To build and run a successful business, you need to eliminate as many stressful situations as possible. This allows you to focus more on the tasks at hand. One of the biggest real-life causes of stress involves debt.Mountains of personal debt can pull your focus away from your business. Avoid debt at all costs, and if you must borrow some money, do everything possible to pay it back quickly.

Many entrepreneurs try to live beyond their means, and if they just cut back in the early stages and focused on building a successful business, the money and financial freedom would come faster.

18Mar2021

How to stay safe while banking and buying online

How to stay safe while banking (and buying) online

The internet has undoubtedly made banking and finance more accessible than ever before. Now, anyone can quickly access funds or make purchases online with just a few clicks.But that convenience also means that your private financial information is vulnerable to being exposed online. And with identity theft and other financial related crimes resulting in billions of losses every year, it’s important to make sure your financial information is as protected as possible.

Luckily, there are a few easy steps you can take to make sure you are in a better position to protect your financial information. In a lot of ways, the easiest way to do that is to adopt some easy online safety habits to use with your financial-related information.

Your first line of defense when it comes to your financial life is your bank account. With the majority of people now using online banking, ensuring that your account is well guarded is of the utmost importance. Although the digital security of banks has improved, like most things online, your account is only as safe as your password is strong. The simplest and arguably most important step you can take to lock down your account is to use a strong and unique password.

Step 1: Creating Strong Passwords with a Password Manager

Given how difficult it can be to remember all the passwords you use online, many people resort to using the same password or similar passwords across services. This is the biggest mistake you can make. If another service you use online is compromised and your password uncovered, hackers can then use that information to break into your other accounts.

In order to stay protected, your best bet is to use a password manager.

These tools will not only generate unique and strong passwords for you, but will store them safely on your computer or phone as well. All you have to do is remember a master password that locks the password manager itself.

Step 2: Further Securing Your Account with Two-Factor Authentication

Now that you have set a unique and strong password, your next step is to enable Two-Factor Authentication, or what is often referred to as 2FA.

This is a security method that requires you to provide a second way of authenticating your identity in order to access your account.

To enable 2FA, check the security settings in your bank account or reach out to your bank for help. While most banks offer 2FA, some smaller banks may not. If 2FA is unavailable, make sure to let your bank know that it is a feature that should absolutely be offered to customers.

Your bank may offer multiple types of 2FA.

One example would be SMS-based 2FA. In this instance, after you put in your password, your bank would text you a unique code (One Time Pin-OTP) to enter online in order to prove that you are the one logging into your account.

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Author Archives: EFC Uganda

Women can be strong.

They can work like a man – if not better.

Personal Finance Tips Every Entrepreneur Should Know

How to stay safe while banking (and buying) online