Furaha supports 100,000 children in Uganda through education financing

Furaha, an education financing platform in Uganda, has reached a milestone of supporting 100,000 children in staying in school through its financing services since beginning operations in 2024.

The platform aims to mitigate financial pressures faced by Ugandan households at the start of school terms, when tuition and other costs like uniforms and meals often fall due before families receive income. This issue is a significant driver of school non-attendance and dropouts, as noted in a 2025 UNICEF report. Data from the Ministry of Education and Sports highlights the scale of the retention challenge, showing that of 1.9 million children who entered Primary One in 2012, only approximately 142,000 reached Senior Six examinations.

Incubated by SC Ventures, Furaha connects families to short-term loans through partner financial institutions, including Diamond Trust Bank Uganda, Cairo Bank Uganda, Opportunity Bank, and FINCA Uganda. The company provides these partners with technology for customer onboarding, alternative-data credit assessment, and loan disbursement. CEO Dennis Musinguzi stated that the goal is to ensure no child is sent home due to timing issues with fee payments.