Uganda Government: 80 Billion Shillings in Grants for Women-Owned Businesses

In Uganda, the government, through the State Minister for Gender and Culture, Mary Kamuli Kuteesa, announced last week in Fort Portal that it will provide an additional 80 billion shillings in non-repayable grants to support women-owned businesses under the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project.

This initiative holds significant legal and economic implications for Uganda, primarily by addressing long-standing financial barriers that have hindered women entrepreneurs. By offering non-repayable grants and explicitly removing collateral requirements, the government aims to level the playing field for women, particularly given that only 6% of women in Uganda own land, which severely limits their access to conventional loans. This move is expected to stimulate the growth of women-led enterprises, foster economic diversification by encouraging women into male-dominated sectors like construction and manufacturing, and ultimately contribute to broader national development goals by increasing employment and tax revenues from a previously underserved demographic.

The program operates within Uganda's existing legal and policy framework for economic development and gender equality, although specific statutes are not cited in the excerpt. It aligns with the principles enshrined in the National Gender Policy and various national development plans that seek to empower women and promote inclusive economic growth. The