Search for Top 100 companies launched

Kampala.

Small and medium-sized companies contribute the greatest part of the world’s economy, yet have often failed to have a solid growth and support forum. This was a fact emphasised by Mr Benson Ndung’u, the country manager, KPMG during the launch of the Uganda Top 100 mid-sized companies’ survey 2016 at a press conference at Stanbic Bank headquarters in Kampala on Friday.

A brainchild of KPMG and Daily Monitor, the Top 100 Survey, now in its 8th edition, seeks to identify Uganda’s fastest growing medium sized companies in order to showcase business excellence and highlight some of the country’s most successful entrepreneurship stories. This, as Mr Ndung’u highlighted, shall create the growth and support forum that medium-sized companies rarely get.

“As the survey has done in the past, we shall be organising forums not only aimed at discussing and identifying issues that affect these organisations, but also seek to find solutions. Our desire is to see these organisations grow beyond their various capacity levels,” Mr Ndung’u said.

Why your company should be on board
This year’s survey, with Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited and ICEA Group as sponsoring partners, will run under the theme, “Staying ahead of the competition in the evolving economic environment.”

Speaking at the launch, Mr Kevin Wingfield, the head personal and business banking Stanbic Bank, noted that most cases of business failure occur just when the company has made its leap from small to medium-size, which is why mid-sized companies need all the support they can get.

“As Stanbic Bank, we strongly believe in offering support to such companies not only through the financial aspect, but even on the side of exposure. This is the support we seek to render through the Top 100 project,” Mr Wingfield said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Mr Jackson Muli, the chief executive officer, ICEA Life Assurance, who said participating in this competition is critical to business improvement, which ultimately helps entities gain access to new sources of financing. He said it also enhances their business management skills and avails them with new partners needed to move to the next level.

Monitor Publications Limited head of marketing, Ms Sarah Nalule, urged SMEs not to shy away but take advantage of this platform as it is an opportunity to give their businesses an edge.

How to participate
Date. The survey starts tomorrow, Monday July 11 and will attract countrywide participation.

Participation. Mr Peter Kyambadde, director tax and corporate services KPMG, and Top 100 project manager, explained that to take part in the survey, companies need to complete two questionnaires - a general and a financial questionnaire. “The general questionnaire will basically look at aspects like the company’s talent management and retention success, source of financing and governance structure, while the financial questionnaire shall look at aspects like revenue growth and liquidity levels,” Mr Kyambadde highlighted.
He also noted that the survey’s ranking shall focus on quantitative criteria and that only ratios, as well as key trends shown by the Top 100 companies, will be published in the survey findings for purposes of confidentiality.
Participation is voluntary. Any company can participate (with the exception of banks, insurance companies, accounting/financial consulting firms) as long as it meets the following criteria:
• Has a turnover range that is between Shs360m and Shs25 billion.
• Has audited financial statements for three years.
• Is not listed on any stock exchange.
Interested participants should pick questionnaires that are available at Daily Monitor and KPMG offices or call 0392 080 708 and the questionnaires will be delivered.

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