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Since its launch, Uganda’s Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project has sparked questions over its accessibility and selection criteria.
Critics have raised concerns about the extensive paperwork required and the interest rates, especially when compared to other initiatives such as PDM and Emyooga.
Dr Ruth Kasolo, the Grow Project Coordinator, clarifies that the project is deliberately selective, focusing on women who have already established themselves in business and are ready to transition from informal operations to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
She explained, “When this programme was starting, it did not take into consideration the beneficiaries of PDM or Emyooga. It is focused on a woman who has somehow established herself in business but is seeking to be more independent and transform her business from informal to a Small/Medium Enterprise.”
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This selectivity is why the project partners with six commercial banks, allowing them to apply their own lending procedures, including a minimal interest rate of 10%.
The aim is to offer substantial, growth-oriented loans that differ from smaller amounts aimed at the lowest income groups in society.
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Boosting women’s entrepreneurship and economic transformation
The GROW Project is a USD 217 million initiative designed to empower over 60,000 female-owned businesses across Uganda, including 3,000 refugee enterprises.
As of October 2024, nearly Shs19 billion had been disbursed to more than 1,100 women entrepreneurs, with loans ranging from Shs4 million to Shs200 million depending on the scale of the business.
Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, emphasised the government’s strategic partnerships with financial institutions and women-led NGOs to tackle social barriers and provide mentoring. She noted the mapping of 522 women entrepreneur platforms serving as hubs for mobilisation and support.
“The GROW Project will serve as a catalyst for economic transformation, empowering women to contribute meaningfully to national development,” said Minister Amongi.
With ongoing training, financial access, and institutional support, the project aims to reshape Uganda’s entrepreneurial landscape and create sustainable economic opportunities for women nationwide.