KAMPALA – Little Feza Builders, a Kampala-based social enterprise, is taking bold steps to address the growing concern of financial illiteracy among Uganda’s youth. With only 34% of the population considered financially literate and a mere 16% of children having access to structured financial education, the organization believes early intervention is crucial.

According to Blessing Immaculate Owomugisha, Program Lead at Little Feza Builders, “We firmly believe that financial empowerment must start early in life. By equipping children with the knowledge and tools to manage money from a young age, we are laying the foundation for a more responsible, self-reliant, and economically empowered generation.”

The organization’s flagship program, the CASHSMART Kids and Teens Bootcamp, recently attracted over 70 enthusiastic participants during a recent school holiday. The bootcamp was designed to simulate real-world financial experiences, where children were grouped into teams to design, produce, and package marketable items, ranging from handcrafted soaps to customized school supplies.

As Owomugisha explained, “Each child had to set individual savings targets and join a Little Savers Club—a peer-led group that promotes accountability, monthly deposits, and shared financial tips. These clubs instill the discipline of consistent saving and encourage dialogue around money matters among young peers.”

The program’s goal is to equip children and teenagers with practical, age-appropriate financial skills that prepare them to make informed money decisions throughout their lives. According to Owomugisha, “The initiative is ambitiously designed to reach over 300 schools and more than one million learners annually.”

To bridge classroom learning with the formal financial sector, Little Feza has partnered with local banks and licensed asset managers to introduce a Children’s Fund. This innovative tool allows participants to open real savings accounts or access unit trust investments, giving them a tangible stake in their financial future.

Collins Mark Namanya, Business Development Officer at Britam Asset Management, noted that “Britam has strategically repositioned itself as a holistic financial services provider. Beyond its traditional offerings of general and life insurance, the company now provides a wide range of investment solutions tailored to meet the needs of clients across all age groups through its investment arm, Britam Asset Managers.”

Namanya emphasized that unit trusts are an accessible and effective way for young people to begin investing. “These collective investment schemes have become an ideal entry point, combining affordability, professional fund management, and the potential for consistent returns,” he said. “By pooling resources and benefiting from professional fund management, young savers are not only cultivating a culture of saving and financial discipline but are also earning competitive annual returns, currently averaging around 11.7%.”

The partnership between Little Feza and Britam aims to empower children to develop foundational financial habits. As Namanya put it, “The idea is to teach children that saving is not just about putting money aside, but about making that money work for you. We want to change the narrative for the next generation, from one where money was simply spent, to one where money is intentionally grown and managed. It’s about empowering children to see saving as a tool for building a secure and prosperous future.”

By instilling these skills, Little Feza Builders hopes to lay the foundation for a more responsible, self-reliant, and economically empowered generation. With its targeted programs and partnerships, the organization is well on its way to making a lasting impact on Uganda’s financial literacy landscape.