dfcu Bank and MTN Uganda have launched the second phase of the Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE 2.0) programme, a new push aimed at helping women-owned businesses grow into structured and competitive enterprises capable of accessing corporate markets and procurement opportunities.
The programme, launched in Kampala on Friday, builds on the first AWE cohort introduced in March 2024 and seeks to support women entrepreneurs through financing, mentorship, business training, digital adoption and market access.
Officials said the initiative is intended to address one of the biggest hurdles facing women-led businesses in Uganda — transitioning from informal operations into investment-ready enterprises that can participate in formal supply chains.
Speaking at the launch, dfcu Bank Executive Director and Chief Credit Officer Margaret Karume said empowering women entrepreneurs was central to driving inclusive economic growth.
“At dfcu Bank, we strongly believe that when women grow their businesses, economies grow. More importantly, societies become more resilient, households become more stable, and opportunities multiply for future generations,” Karume said.
She said the bank’s Women in Business agenda goes beyond financing and focuses on equipping women entrepreneurs with practical skills needed for sustainable growth.
Karume noted that many women entrepreneurs operating in sectors such as agribusiness, logistics, manufacturing, technology, retail and professional services often struggle to access markets, structured business knowledge and financing.
“What many women entrepreneurs often lack is not ambition, but access to markets, structured business knowledge, networks, financing, and confidence-building ecosystems that enable businesses to scale sustainably,” she said.
The first phase of the programme brought together several partners, including MTN Uganda, American Tower Corporation (ATC), UN Women, Innovation Village, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), dfcu Foundation and dfcu Bank.
As part of the initiative, dfcu Bank committed UGX 30 billion in financing over a three-year period to strengthen enterprise growth and procurement readiness.
According to the bank, UGX 2 billion has already been disbursed to 19 women-led enterprises through contract financing, enabling them to execute opportunities secured within MTN Uganda’s supply chain and among partner organisations.
Programme statistics indicate that more than 118 female entrepreneurs have so far been trained, UGX 5 billion mobilised in deposits, and 76 enterprises enrolled into the accelerator programme. Letters of credit worth more than USD 500,000 have also been facilitated for participating businesses.
Karume said the progress recorded under the programme demonstrates the importance of deliberate investment in women-owned enterprises through integrated business development models.
She added that while many entrepreneurs begin with passion and determination, long-term growth increasingly requires governance systems, operational structures, financial discipline, digital tools and compliance readiness.
Operating under the theme “She Means Business,” AWE 2.0 introduces a more structured incubator and accelerator approach focusing on financial management, ESG integration, digital transformation, investor readiness, mentorship and market visibility.
MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge said the programme had already registered significant gains in supplier inclusion within the company’s ecosystem.
“Since inception, the programme has contributed to significant supplier inclusion growth within MTN Uganda’s ecosystem, with women owned business participation increasing from 0.3% to 15%. Additionally, more than 15 women owned enterprises have collectively secured contracts worth over UGX 62 billion through the initiative,” Mulinge said.
The programme will roll out accelerator trainings, mentorship engagements, investor pitch sessions and supplier development activities throughout 2026 as part of efforts to position women-led businesses for long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
The partners said AWE 2.0 is intended to position women entrepreneurship not only as a social inclusion agenda, but also as a driver of economic resilience, innovation and national development.
