Equity Bank Turns One Young Ugandan’s Dream Into Reality

At just 29, Abel Byamukama has transformed his life from living in an abandoned house to running a thriving home-care manufacturing business. He credits Equity Bank’s youth-focused financing as the springboard that launched his growth.

A Humble Beginning With Big Ambition

Byamukama’s journey started in Fort Portal City, where he arrived with only UGX 40,000 and no place to stay. A kind friend offered him shelter and introduced him to the craft of making liquid soap — a skill that would soon become his livelihood. He began small, buying raw materials with his meager savings and packaging his first products in used mineral-water bottles, which he sold door-to-door across town.

Struggling for Capital — Until Equity Stepped In

At the time, getting a bank loan seemed impossible. Byamukama recounts that traditional lenders required too much collateral. He did manage to get a microfinance loan of UGX 480,000, but it wasn’t nearly enough to scale his operations. Despite repaying it successfully, he still needed more.

His turning point came when a friend told him about Equity Bank’s Youth Loan. Rather than just handing him paperwork, Equity’s staff walked him through the application, offering step-by-step guidance. Through their financial-literacy program, he joined a group of young entrepreneurs and applied for a UGX 2.5 million youth loan — money that would reshape his business trajectory.

Scaling Up: From Door-to-Door to Institutional Clients

With that initial loan, Byamukama improved production, refined his product branding, and began meeting the quality standards required by larger clients. His reputation grew: he was invited by the Tooro Women’s Group to teach soap-making, and before long, his products were flowing into supermarkets, hotels, and institutions across multiple districts.

After repaying the first loan, he accessed additional financing — ultimately six youth loans (ranging from UGX 2.5M to 5M) and six digital loans (UGX 1M–3M). His capital surged from UGX 1.5 million to UGX 40 million.

Building a Regional Brand With Equity’s Backing

Today, Klean Star Products operates across three branches: Fort Portal (headquarters), Kyenjojo, and Mbarara. The product line has diversified to include liquid soap, bar soap, shampoo, body lotion, jelly, candles, and even raw materials for other manufacturers. Byamukama’s business now reaches 11 districts, supplying hotels, supermarkets, bakeries, factories, and more. He has grown to employ eight full-time staff.

His personal transformation mirrors his business growth: Byamukama now owns ten cows, has purchased land on a highway, drives a car, rides a motorbike, and lives in a comfortable home. “From living in an abandoned building, I can now afford a comfortable life,” he says.

Equity Bank: A Catalyst for Youth Empowerment

Byamukama strongly believes that Equity Bank’s youth loan program filled a major gap for young entrepreneurs — affordable capital. “They believed in me when others didn’t,” he says, crediting the bank for helping him turn his vision into reality. He sees his success as a source of inspiration and hopes to eventually scale Klean Star Products into a full factory, generating employment across East Africa.