New Business Discovery Platform in Uganda

GovTechnologies has officially launched Find.UG, a business discovery and visibility platform designed to connect Ugandan businesses with consumers through digital, print and social media channels.

The platform combines a business directory website, social media presence and a quarterly print magazine into what its developers describe as a “360-degree” visibility ecosystem for businesses and advertisers.

According to Mohammad Hazari of GovTechnologies, Find.UG is designed to provide businesses with greater exposure across multiple platforms at an affordable cost, while helping consumers find trusted providers of products and services across Uganda.

The Find.UG website serves as a business directory where users can search for companies by category and location. The platform currently features businesses from areas including Kampala, Gulu, Masaka, Mbale, Jinja and Entebbe.

Businesses can also register and list themselves on the website free of charge, subject to approval by the Find.UG team. Individual business listings provide information such as contact details, WhatsApp access, services, opening hours, products and location.

The platform's print component is the Find.UG magazine, whose first edition has been released with 5,000 copies distributed across Kampala and surrounding areas. The magazine features business advertisements, QR codes linking readers to business listings and coupons that consumers can redeem at participating businesses.

The magazine is distributed free of charge to the public and also contains articles and entertainment activities. An electronic version is available through the Find.UG website for people who may not have access to the physical publication.

Hazari said the combination of print and digital platforms is intended to make the service more inclusive, particularly for people who have limited access to smartphones or the internet.

Find.UG is also active on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X, providing an additional channel through which businesses can reach potential customers.

The company said its mission is to address the limitations of traditional advertising, where businesses often have to choose between individual channels such as social media, websites or print publications.

“Usually when we have people that are doing any advertisements, it is focused on one channel,” Hazari said, explaining that Find.UG seeks to combine the three channels into a single advertising package.

The platform is targeting both businesses seeking visibility and members of the public looking for trusted products and service providers. Its developers said the project could particularly benefit small businesses by giving them access to a free online business listing.

Beyond business visibility, GovTechnologies said the project is also creating employment opportunities, including roles in graphic design, platform maintenance and magazine distribution.

The company described its vision as a long-term one, with plans to increase the number of printed copies, expand distribution beyond Kampala and introduce additional value to future editions.

The magazine is expected to be published quarterly, with the second edition scheduled for November 2026. Advertising packages for the next edition start at Shs350,000.

GovTechnologies also said it vets businesses that participate as advertisers, with the aim of ensuring that consumers can access trusted providers through the platform.

As Find.UG expands, the company says its goal is to build a wider business ecosystem that makes it easier for Ugandans to discover businesses while giving companies, particularly small businesses, an affordable way to increase their visibility.