By Ezaruku Draku Franklin

Women entrepreneurs in Uganda have been asked to form and join groups so that they can pool resources and ideas together to realise bigger economic transformation. Under the Tony Elumelu Foundation and other organisations, a number of women have been trained in business management and other soft skills in running successful businesses.

Ms. Catherine Natukunda, the Senior Officer-Procurement and Capacity Building at Public Procurement and Disposal Authority (PPDA)’s said women need to organizes themselves so that they can take part in winning contracts and get share of the national budget.

Natukunda said if women are organized, it is possible to scoop part of the Shs37.4 trillion budget. She asked them to register their businesses with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and Uganda Revenue Authority.

“This money is in trillions. Ladies in Business, youth and people with special needs have, in addition to local content considerations been given higher consideration after the amendment of the PPDA Act-2003 that was revised in July 2021 to accommodate you and me,” she said.

The trainings and mentorships offered by the GIZ;- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the EU;-European Union, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, Swiss Organization for Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets together with implementing partner, Solid Rock Life and Business, will equip women in accessing formal jobs and take parts in businesses spaces.

Natukunda said while previously corruption has been endemic in the procurement system, the online portal has reduced such cases and asked women to take this opportunity to benefit from government procurements.

“The electronic government procurement portal reduces chances of corruption by 80% so women all over the country are encouraged to register and be compliant,” she said.

Donald Agaba, the team leader GIZ-E4D, noted that the capacity building activities have been divided into three components I.e., Entrepreneurship training and seed Capital, Value Chain and Supplier development and Second Stage Financing where selected women entrepreneurs from TEF alumni and SAFEEM will receive €10,000 together with technical assistance.

“This is not charity! It is GIZ’s responsibility to ensure growth of Women Businesses in order to grow the entire economy and adhere to Millennium Development Goals,” he said.

Ronald Kavulu, The Chief Operating Officer from the Implementing partner: – Solid Rock Life and Business, together with the Entrepreneurs’ training team Leader; Ms. Bbosa Dorothy Katantazi assured the participants of the commitment from Solid Rock Life and Business, to ensure bespoke needs assessment.

“So far, 58 women of our targeted 100 have undergone the intensive practical training which is conducted physically and online in the areas of: – business development, including business environment assessment, pricing strategies, Costing, strategic planning, and several other business skills, including basic finance management. “Kavulu said.

He assured TEF alumni members that an additional cohort will be held in January 2023, to ensure more women are included in this opportune program.

Francis Mwanika a Corporate Development and training expert who is also part of the training for TEF alumni women-led enterprises selected from across the country said the Business Clinics, culminating from the training at Solid Rock Life and Business, with campuses in Kitante and Muyenga, are aimed to close gender gaps for women who should serve as role models in their societies.

These include MSMEs of Kampala, Masaka, Wakiso, Soroti, Mukono, Mpigi, Mbarara, Yumbe among other districts that the funders believe need support to fully recover from aftereffects of Covid19, grow and become self-sustainable.