By Ben Musanje
More than 2,334 women entrepreneurs across Uganda have so far benefited from the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, with Shs133 billion already disbursed to women-owned businesses and enterprise groups, the project’s Coordinator, Dr. Aisha Ruth Kasolo Biyinzika, has revealed.
The World Bank-funded initiative, valued at approximately Shs800 billion (USD217 million), is being implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in partnership with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU). The project seeks to improve access to finance, business development services and entrepreneurial support for women-owned enterprises across Uganda, including businesses operating in refugee-hosting districts.
Dr. Kasolo made the remarks during the launch of the disbursement of GROW Project funds through Kyadondo CBS PEWOSA SACCO to beneficiaries in Ssaza Butambala at Kibibi Sub-County Headquarters Playground in Butambala District.
She said the project was steadily expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs, adding that although Shs133 billion had already reached beneficiaries, the programme was still progressing towards its broader target of transforming women’s participation in the country’s economy.
The GROW Project aims to support more than 60,000 female-owned enterprises, including 3,000 refugee-owned businesses, while directly benefiting over 280,000 women entrepreneurs and employees, among them 42,000 refugees and 14,000 members of host communities. It is also expected to create indirect benefits for approximately 1.6 million Ugandans before its scheduled completion in December 2027.
Dr. Kasolo explained that while the project primarily focuses on strengthening established women-led businesses, part of the funding is invested in infrastructure development, entrepreneurship competitions, business development services and mind-set change programmes to create a supportive environment for sustainable enterprise growth.
She disclosed that the government had also set aside Shs200 billion to provide affordable loans exclusively to women entrepreneurs, enabling them to expand their businesses through low-interest financing. According to her, plans were underway to establish a permanent government authority that would sustain the programme beyond the current project’s lifespan, ensuring continued support for women entrepreneurs even after the GROW Project ends.
Dr. Kasolo acknowledged that implementation of the project in Butambala initially faced challenges because the district lacked commercial banks through which beneficiaries could access the funds. She said the government later responded to concerns raised by women entrepreneurs by allowing microfinance institutions and savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) to participate in the programme. As a result, Kyadondo CBS PEWOSA SACCO, one of Buganda’s leading cooperative financial institutions, accessed Shs5 billion to lend to eligible women entrepreneurs.
She further pledged to work with CBS PEWOSA SACCO to establish a Halal financial product, saying such a facility would enable Muslim women entrepreneurs to access the project without conflicting with Islamic financial principles.
According to Dr. Kasolo, approximately Shs66 billion has so far been disbursed to participating financial institutions across the Buganda region, improving access to affordable financing for women-owned enterprises.
She also announced that the project was working to connect innovators and entrepreneurs in Butambala with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) for product testing and certification. She said obtaining quality certification would enable local producers to access regional and international export markets.
Dr. Kasolo appealed to women entrepreneurs to invest the funds in productive ventures capable of improving household incomes, creating jobs and expanding businesses instead of diverting the money to non-developmental activities. She also encouraged men to support women in accessing the funds and investing in enterprises that would improve family welfare and community development.
She reaffirmed her commitment to lobbying for more development opportunities for the people of Buganda and Uganda as a whole, noting that communities demonstrating commitment to enterprise development would continue attracting support from government and development partners.
The GROW Project, which commenced in January 2023 and runs until December 2027, prioritises sectors where women have high participation and strong potential for growth and employment creation, including agribusiness, manufacturing, hospitality, food processing, beverages, crafts and decoration. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
