Uganda's Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has called on women entrepreneurs to carefully assess the costs of running a business, estimate potential profits and identify reliable markets before making investment decisions. Musasizi made the remarks while officiating at the graduation of more than 300 women who completed a 12-day economic skills training programme under the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project in Kabale Municipality on 25 October. The minister said that understanding these factors would help women make informed investment decisions, strengthen their enterprises and improve household incomes.
Musasizi also urged residents to embrace productive economic activities aligned with President Yoweri Museveni's wealth creation agenda. He encouraged households to maximise the use of limited land around their homes through intensive agriculture and more efficient farming practices to increase productivity and generate additional income. "President Museveni is encouraging Ugandans to engage in productive economic activities that improve household incomes and livelihoods," Musasizi said.
Rubanda District Woman Member of Parliament Evelyn Kikafunda and Rubanda West MP Bruce Balaba Kabaasa commended the GROW Project for equipping women with business skills and providing support aimed at improving their livelihoods. They said such initiatives could help beneficiaries establish and expand businesses, increase household earnings and contribute to local economic development.
The GROW Project Country Coordinator, Dr Aisha Kasolo, said the programme would continue monitoring graduates to assess their progress and identify opportunities to support the growth of their enterprises. "We shall continue monitoring to ensure that we continue following up on our graduates," Kasolo said. The GROW Project is a five-year initiative running from 2022 to December 2027, designed to support women entrepreneurs through business development interventions intended to strengthen their enterprises and expand their economic opportunities.