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The Government of Uganda is stepping implementation of the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, which targets existing women-owned micro and small-scale enterprises with potential to grow and increase productivity.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, which is implementing the program, has faced queries about the criteria followed to award the funds.
The ministry provided the following guidance on which businesses qualify.
To qualify as a women-owned business, at least 51% of the company’s shares must belong to a woman.
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Micro-enterprises are defined as those employing fewer than five workers and generating annual turnover below UGX 10 million, while small enterprises have between 5 and 49 workers and turnover ranging from UGX 10 million to UGX 100 million.
Both registered and unregistered businesses owned by women can benefit from the GROW Project.
Business registration is not mandatory for activities such as training, mentoring, networking, grant support through business plan competitions, and skills development.
However, access to loans and infrastructure grants may require the business to be registered.
Financing and Support to Boost Women’s Enterprises
Launched to support over 60,000 female-owned businesses—including 3,000 refugee enterprises—the GROW Project aims to enhance women’s access to finance, gender-inclusive infrastructure, business skills, and community mobilisation.
As of October 2024, nearly UGX 19 billion had been disbursed to 1,193 women entrepreneurs. Of these, 995 women accessed loans between UGX 4 million and UGX 20 million, collectively receiving UGX 9.03 billion.
Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, highlighted strategic partnerships with commercial banks such as Centenary, PostBank, Finance Trust Bank, Dfcu, and Equity Bank.
Agreements worth UGX 98.55 billion have been signed to facilitate credit access, with UGX 26.052 billion already advanced to financial institutions by August 2024.
A Catalyst for Economic Growth and Women’s Empowerment
The GROW Project is also working with women-led non-governmental organisations to tackle social norms that limit women’s participation in business.
Mobilisation and mentoring activities are taking place at sub-county and district levels, where 522 women entrepreneur platforms have been mapped to serve as hubs for support.