Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") form an agreement between you and African Business Council ("ABC", "we", "us", "our"), governing your access to and use of our website and services (the "Services"), including browsing our site, registering an account, applying for Generation Next Business Club membership, and submitting service requests. By accessing our website or creating an account, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services. These Terms should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which explains how we handle your personal data.

Eligibility

Our Services are intended for business owners and representatives aged 18 or older, acting on behalf of a legitimate business. By registering, you confirm that you meet this requirement and that the information you provide about yourself and your business is accurate.

Description of Services

ABC provides business support services organized around three pillars, alongside the Generation Next Business Club membership programme:

• Empowerment Hub — staff training, legal consultation, tax consultation, and accounting & auditing support
• Growth Accelerator — technology solutions, innovation strategy, marketing, and e-commerce enablement
• Trust Bridge — supplier/buyer linking, guarantee-related applications, arbitration, and independent evaluation (see the dedicated section below)
• Generation Next Business Club — a membership programme providing ongoing access to business advice and the services above

We may add, change, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Services at our discretion, and will make reasonable efforts to notify members of material changes affecting active memberships or requests.

Account Registration and Security

To access most Services you must register an account. In doing so, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information about yourself and your business, and keep it up to date
• Keep your password confidential and take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access to your account
• Register only one account per business, unless we agree otherwise in writing
• Notify us promptly if you suspect unauthorized use of your account

Membership (Generation Next Business Club)

Membership is by application. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval — ABC reviews each application and decides at its discretion whether to approve, request more information, or decline it. Approved members are notified through their dashboard and, where applicable, asked to complete payment before membership is activated.

Membership fees (annual subscription and monthly service fee) are set by ABC and shown on the Generation Next Business Club page and in your account; they may be updated from time to time, with reasonable notice for existing members where required by law. Fees already paid are generally non-refundable except where required by law or expressly agreed by ABC in writing.

ABC may suspend or terminate a membership for non-payment, breach of these Terms, provision of false information, or conduct that puts other members, ABC staff, or the platform at risk.

Service Requests

Submitting a service request (including uploading supporting documents) does not itself create an obligation on ABC to provide the requested service. Some services require a structured application and ABC review before approval, as indicated at the point of request; ABC decides on these at its discretion and will notify you of the outcome.

You are responsible for the accuracy and legality of the information and documents you submit with any service request. ABC may decline, pause, or request clarification on any request where the information provided is incomplete, inaccurate, or raises concerns.

Trust Bridge Services

Trust Bridge includes Credit Guarantee applications, Performance Bond Guarantee applications, Arbitration requests, and Supplier/Buyer Linking requests. Each is a structured application reviewed and decided by ABC — approval is never automatic, and ABC may request additional information, documents, or clarification before making a decision.

For Arbitration requests specifically: ABC facilitates a process for resolving disputes between businesses at their request. This facilitation does not constitute legal advice, and does not guarantee any particular outcome. Parties remain free to seek independent legal counsel at any stage.

For Supplier/Buyer Linking: ABC reviews requests and manages introductions between businesses manually. This is not an automated matching service, and ABC does not guarantee that a suitable match will be found, or vouch for the conduct, solvency, or performance of any business it introduces you to.

Supplier Advertising

Advertising is available to approved Supplier Network members who wish to promote their business on ABC-operated ad placements (such as the homepage carousel, member dashboard, supplier pages, and the site-wide sticky bar). Submitting an advertisement for review does not guarantee it will be approved or displayed.

Each advertisement is submitted under a specific package and duration, at the price shown to you at the time of submission; that price is fixed for that advertisement once submitted and is not affected by later changes to package or duration pricing. ABC reviews every submission and may approve it, reject it, or request changes before approval, at its discretion — including as to the content, images, and destination link you supply.

The advertising fee is only charged once ABC approves your advertisement and payment is confirmed; a rejected or withdrawn submission is never charged. Placement and rotation among other approved advertisements in the same slot is managed by ABC to give active advertisers fair, rotating visibility, and is not guaranteed to be exclusive or continuous.

You are solely responsible for the accuracy, legality, and appropriateness of your advertisement's content and destination link. ABC may suspend or remove a live advertisement at any time for breach of these Terms, applicable law, or ABC's advertising guidelines. Links within advertisements may lead to third-party websites outside ABC's control, which are not covered by these Terms or our Privacy Policy.

Payments and Fees

Payments for membership fees and paid services are currently made via bank transfer or mobile money: you submit a payment reference (and, optionally, proof of payment), and ABC confirms or rejects it after verification. Your payment is only recognized once confirmed by ABC — submitting a reference alone does not activate your membership or service.

Where card or mobile-money gateway payments (such as Stripe, MTN Mobile Money, or Airtel Money) are enabled, those transactions are also subject to the relevant payment provider's own terms and privacy practices.

You are responsible for ensuring payment references you submit are accurate. Submitting a false, altered, or fraudulent payment reference or proof of payment is a serious breach of these Terms and may result in immediate suspension of your account, in addition to any other rights or remedies available to ABC.

Acceptable Use

When using the Services, you agree not to:

• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information, including in registration, service requests, or payment references
• Attempt to defraud ABC, other members, or any third party through the platform
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to another user's account or to any part of our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the platform, including by circumventing rate limits or security controls
• Use the Services for any unlawful purpose, or in violation of any applicable law in Uganda or your own jurisdiction
• Copy, reproduce, or misuse ABC's content, branding, or platform beyond what is needed for your own legitimate use of the Services

Intellectual Property

The ABC name, logo, website design, and content (excluding content you submit) are the property of African Business Council or its licensors and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not use them without our prior written permission, except as necessary to use the Services as intended. You retain ownership of the content and documents you submit to us, and grant ABC a limited license to use them solely to provide the Services you have requested.

Disclaimers

The Services are provided "as is" and "as available." While we work to keep the platform accurate, secure, and available, ABC does not guarantee that the Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that any particular business outcome, approval, guarantee, or introduction will result from your use of them. Nothing on this platform constitutes legal, tax, financial, or investment advice; where such advice is relevant to your situation, you should seek it independently from a qualified professional.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Ugandan law, ABC will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Services, including loss of profits, business, or data, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Nothing in these Terms limits any liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law, including in cases of fraud or willful misconduct by ABC.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold ABC harmless from any claims, losses, or damages (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, misuse of the Services, or violation of any law or third-party right.

Suspension and Termination

You may stop using the Services and request closure of your account at any time by contacting us. We may suspend or terminate your account or access to the Services, with or without notice, if we reasonably believe you have breached these Terms, provided false information, engaged in fraudulent or harmful conduct, or where required by law. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, and governing law) will continue to apply.

Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises between you and ABC regarding these Terms or the Services, we encourage you to first contact us so we can attempt to resolve it informally and in good faith. If a dispute cannot be resolved this way, it will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Uganda, as set out below.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Uganda, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, and any dispute arising from them or your use of the Services is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Uganda.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Last updated" date above reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be communicated where reasonably practicable; continued use of the Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, contact us at:

• Address: UAP Insurance Building, Kimathi Avenue, Kampala, Uganda
• Phone: +256 200 908 900
• Email: info@africanbusinesscouncil.com