Tugende is an institution specializing in impact financing in Uganda and was founded in 2009 by its current CEO, Michael Wilkerson. In East Africa the most common means of transport are the “boda bodas”, which are simply motorcycles that are also used as taxis. Wilkerson believed in helping people to help themselves, and with that in mind, Tugende has so far financed more than 17,000 self-employed boda boda drivers to own their own motorcycle and earn a living from it. The MFI’s most important product is a leasing and financing package, which includes training, health and life insurance, a driver’s license and technical support that are handed over to the driver at the end of the leasing period. Tugende customers are often unable to get access to a loan due to a lack of collateral from conventional loan providers, including most microfinance institutions.
