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The Ugandan government has taken significant steps to support women-owned businesses benefiting from the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises by simplifying access to safety and standards certification.
This initiative was highlighted during a monitoring visit by Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, to the fund beneficiaries at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories in Kawanda and the Kiyindi Women Fish Processors Association in Buikwe District.
Upgrading Facilities to Improve Safety and Quality
Both institutions recently received substantial funding—Shs 4.2 billion for Kawanda and Shs 300 million for Kiyindi—as part of the GROW Project’s efforts to upgrade common user facilities.
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The aim is to enable women entrepreneurs to operate in cleaner, safer environments that meet national and international product standards. The visits formed part of a due diligence tour to assess how the recent funding allocations are impacting these enterprises.
Minister Amongi announced the ministry’s ongoing collaboration with other government agencies mandated to oversee safety and quality standards.
"The departments of inspection and exports at the Ministry of Agriculture, for instance, will come and inspect and ensure that you are working in an environment safe enough for people to consume your product," she said.
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Free Certification Support to Boost Market Access
To further ease the certification process, the government has signed agreements with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the Ministry of Agriculture.
These agreements ensure that once a project supported by the GROW Fund produces goods ready for market, certification teams from UNBS and the Ministry will visit the project sites to assist beneficiaries in applying for safety and quality certifications—free of charge.
This move is expected to reduce the burden of certification costs and technical complexities, empowering women entrepreneurs to access broader markets confidently.
By guaranteeing that products meet required safety and quality standards, the government is strengthening the competitiveness of women-led enterprises, contributing to their growth and sustainability within Uganda’s economy.