Uganda’s ambitious Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project is shifting focus beyond financing to tackle deep-rooted social and cultural barriers that continue to limit the growth of women-owned businesses.
Speaking on the initiative, Prudence Atukwase, a Gender Specialist at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, said the project is designed to support women entrepreneurs whose businesses have operated for at least a year but struggle to scale.
Implemented jointly with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda and partners including the Uganda Women’s Network and CARE International, the initiative targets micro and small enterprises—many of which form the backbone of Uganda’s informal economy.
“Uganda has one of the highest proportions of women entrepreneurs in Africa, with about 40 percent of enterprises owned by women. However, many of these businesses do not survive beyond their first year,” Atukwase noted.
She attributed the high failure rate to entrenched gender norms that restrict women’s control over resources such as land and capital, as well as decision-making power within households. In many communities, women face barriers to asset ownership and are often required to seek spousal consent for business-related investments.
To address these constraints, the GROW Project is combining entrepreneurship training with social transformation strategies. These include engaging cultural and religious leaders to challenge harmful norms, as well as equipping women with skills in financial management, record-keeping, and customer care.
The project is also promoting women’s participation in high-value, male-dominated sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and transport through apprenticeships and work placements. Additionally, shared production facilities—developed in partnership with institutions like Makerere University and the National Agricultural Research Organisation—are enabling women to access costly equipment and scale production.
A key innovation has been the formation of women entrepreneur platforms across districts, fostering peer learning, market linkages, and collective problem-solving. These networks are already driving intra-market trade among women-led businesses.
At policy level, ongoing studies on taxation, labour participation, and informality aim to inform reforms that could create a more enabling business environment.
Atukwase emphasized that addressing gender-based violence and promoting male engagement remain central to the project’s long-term success, noting that “a supportive household environment is critical for business growth.”