Pan-African fintech JUMO has received a $7.5 million investment from global impact investor BlueOrchard Finance Ltd to scale access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and boost job creation in Uganda.
The funds will be deployed through JUMO’s innovative asset-backed securitisation (ABS) financing structure, the first in Africa tailored specifically for e-money microfinance. The platform allows MSMEs and individuals to access credit directly via mobile phones, enabling business growth and employment in underserved communities.
“By blending financial innovation with deep social impact, we can reach thousands of underserved entrepreneurs and help catalyse economic resilience in Uganda and beyond,” said Jeanne de Guillebon, BlueOrchard’s Regional Manager for Africa.
Andrew Watkins-Ball, JUMO’s CEO, said the investment strengthens the ABS structure and demonstrates how fintech and impact investors can drive financial inclusion for first-time borrowers.
Launched in June 2024 with Standard Bank as the sole arranger and senior lender, the ABS structure unlocks local currency financing for JUMO’s Uganda portfolio. BlueOrchard’s participation is expected to mobilise additional capital and enable replication of the model across other Sub-Saharan African markets.
The initiative could benefit more than four million Ugandans, many accessing formal credit for the first time, providing a scalable blueprint for inclusive growth in the region.