There is certainly a rising number of successful women doing business in Uganda, all trading at different levels as they defy stereotypes to make it and contribute to Uganda’s economy. Much as most women are successful, many fail too or give up for various reasons.
According to research done by UWEAL, women own 45% of businesses in Uganda and are champions of change but the gap between success and failure widens with various challenges among which are; access and cost of credit as one of the biggest barriers, exposure of their businesses and access to markets among others.
Monitor Publications Limited’s (MPL) flagship brand Daily Monitor in partnership with dfcu bank’s Women in Business Program and Uganda Investment Authority-UIA are carrying out an initiative dubbed Rising Woman under the theme ‘Taking your business ahead’ to recognize, celebrate and promote a culture of mentorship among women in business in Uganda.
Over the years dfcu has supported women in business who have succeeded and now own inspirational stories of success. The partnership therefore entails celebrating the unsung heroes and inspiring other women at different stages of the same journey.
A series of activities under this initiative are planned to take place from the launch date till September 2018. Some of the activities and take-aways will include power talks countrywide, mentorship programs, business Expo, exposure trip and cash prizes among others.
Target groups
- Business women
- Small scale investors
- Entrepreneurs
- Members of Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (UWEAL)
- Members of Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA)
- Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) members
Objectives
- Provide a platform for women in business to escalate their businesses to great heights
- Support the increase of revenue earned by women in businesses
- Advocate for and on behalf of women businesses
- Improve access to business information for businesses
- Domestic Investment Promotion
- Facilitation and support for businesses under the National Content inclusion in priority sectors.
- Provide women with financing solutions that meet their needs while negating the phobia for borrowing among women
Benefits of being of a part of the Rising Woman initiative
- Networking opportunities at 4 power talks/forums countrywide addressing issues the businesses are facing. Power talks will host both local and regional female successful entrepreneurs to empower women in business. Uganda Investment Authority will be key in training at the power talks together with its partners.
- Specialized pricing on all rate cards and bank products for all women in the club.
- Mentorship programs with business advisors, financial experts and investors. Women in business will both mentor and be mentored by other female entrepreneurs during the year. Mentorship programs will run in areas of taxation, business performance, investment among others
- Exposure to various international business investment opportunities and strategic partnerships
- Access to the industrial parks countrywide
- Exposure trip for 10 women with the most exciting proposals
- Cash prizes for the top 3 winning proposals
- And all dfcu WiB benefit as listed below:
- Business advisory services
- Relationship manager
- Business training and mentorship trainings
- Local & international business linkages and study tours
- Opportunity to grow savings through dfcu investment clubs.
Trainings / Power talks
The main objective is to enable women entrepreneurs to utilize appropriate business skills, information and services aimed at achieving a sustainable and competitive private sector in the long run.
Entrepreneurs are taken through the skills of running and sustaining an enterprise. Technical Skills program is aimed at building capacities of women so that they may acquire the necessary basic skills to produce improved and high quality products that fetch high monetary values thus improving house hold income and promoting industrialization.
Training areas include; textile, shoe making, bakery, soap making, agro-processing, candle making, art and craft, paper manufacturing, maize processing, fish processing, making sanitary towels, production of jelly, processing of bottled water, oil seed extraction, wine processing, sesame processing, honey processing, fruit drying and packaging, silage and hay production, poultry feeds making, ginger processing, soya milk processing, tooth brush making and paint manufacturing among others.
How to submit your proposal
Interested businesses should visit www.dfcubank.com download a form with guidelines on proposal writing and then submit the proposals at any dfcu bank branch, Daily Monitor offices country wide and UIA offices or district commercial officers in the respective districts.
Trainings will be conducted for two days in each region training 100 participants per day.
- Register at the district commercial officer in the respective districts, Mbarara, Jinja, Lira or call Leslie – 0782-948915, Victoria – 0776-760603 or Elizabeth – 0702-1700108.
Business Expo
In September a 2-day expo will be carried out in Kampala to crown off as women showcase some of their products. The expo is free of charge for a select set of the members under the initiative and at a cost for non-members.
