160 Ugandan businesswomen sent for work placement under GROW

In a landmark effort to empower women entrepreneurs, the Government, through the gender ministry, has officially flagged off 160 women business owners for work placement across various enterprises in the greater Kampala metropolitan area, including Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts.

This marks the second cohort under the GROW (Generating Growth Opportunities for Women) project, a comprehensive initiative aimed at placing a total of 5,000 women in business-enhancing apprenticeships by 2027.

Empowering women to scale their businesses

“We are not training beginners,” John Ssengendo, the head of the GROW project at the ministry, said. 

“These are women who already run their businesses. They are not learning from scratch—they are upgrading. We’re opening doors they could never open alone.”

According to Ssengendo, the initiative directly addresses the key constraints that women entrepreneurs in Uganda face, including, limited access to affordable financing, insufficient business and financial management skills and lack of exposure to modern practices in competitive markets.

He revealed that many of these women operate in industries such as catering, tailoring, salon services and manufacturing.

Through this placement, he said, they will spend between three weeks to three months in better-equipped enterprises, gaining hands-on experience, learning costing, business management, modern techniques, and ethical workplace practices.

“This is our third cohort. We’ve already placed about 400 women and are targeting over 1,000 more in the coming months,” he added. 

“And we are not leaving anyone behind—refugees and women from rural areas are part of this journey too.”

Building the capacity for real change

The orientation programme, conducted before placements, ensures that beneficiaries understand workplace expectations, ethics, timekeeping and professionalism.

“We’re preparing them to meet the realities of competitive enterprises,” Enoch Mutambi, a skills specialist at the ministry, said. “We match them based on their industry and learning goals—whether it's plaiting hair, baking, tailoring, or electronics.”

So far, 35 enterprises have partnered with the ministry, offering their premises, tools and mentorship. These businesses are also incentivised to cover costs like utilities, raw materials and trainer time, ensuring a mutually beneficial collaboration.

The women also receive support for transport, accommodation, and basic needs, ensuring that their only focus during placement is learning and growth.

A tailor’s tale: Josephine's hopeful journey

For Josephine Kabarwani Otema Abwori, a seasoned tailor from Ndazabazade village in Wakiso district, the GROW project is a lifeline—not for loans, but for learning.

“I’ve been tailoring for 15 years, making school uniforms for over 30 schools from Kampala to Kasese,” she shared. “But things have changed. New embroidery machines, new styles, business practices—I need to keep up. That’s why I joined GROW.”

Her workshop, Fruit of African Development Programme, employs up to 20 workers seasonally and supports her three school-going grandchildren. But it wasn’t until she attended a training in Kawanda that she began understanding the power of structured business management.

“I learned to keep books—cash books, credit books, sales records. Now I know who worked, who was paid, what I owe, and what I’m owed. That alone changed my business,” she said proudly.

But Josephine’s dreams are far from over. Her eyes are now set on mastering casual wear design for men and women, particularly pieces with style and embroidery.

“I want to make more than just school uniforms. I can sew a shirt with my eyes closed—but not the modern casual dresses or men’s shirts with flair. I need to learn that. I haven’t bought an embroidery machine yet, but I believe if I go for placement, I’ll learn and get the courage to invest in one.”

Ssengendo lauded Josephine’s story of resilience, ambition, and transformation. 

“The ultimate goal,” Ssengendo explained, “is for these women to return to their businesses and employ more women, pay taxes, and become market leaders in their sectors.”

 Over 5,000 placements planned

With over 5,000 placements planned by the end of 2027, and thousands of applications already submitted, Mutambi said the Ministry is scaling up its efforts.

He said focus areas will soon expand to male-dominated sectors like construction, welding, electronics, and manufacturing—breaking not just business barriers but also gender norms.

 “This is not a handout,” said Mutambi. “It’s an investment—in knowledge, in enterprise, in the future of Uganda.”