Over 160 women-led green enterprises graduate under Stanbic, GIZ programme

A total of 165 women-led enterprises have graduated from a green business acceleration programme supported by Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL) and the German development agency (GIZ), in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

The enterprises completed training under the Green Businesses and Jobs for the Green Transformation Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening women entrepreneurship, creating green jobs and accelerating Uganda’s transition to a sustainable economy.

Launched in 2024 under the Women for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) programme, the initiative supports women-led businesses operating in renewable energy, waste management, sustainable agriculture, circular economy, ecotourism and the blue economy.

The graduation ceremony marked the completion of four cohorts of the programme.

Speaking at the event, State minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development Mary Kuteesa, in remarks delivered by Lydia Nabiryo, assistant commissioner for equity and rights, commended Stanbic and the German government for supporting women entrepreneurs.

She said women-led enterprises are central to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, which aims to expand the economy through industrialisation, value addition, job creation and increased productivity.

“Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy will only be realised if we deliberately invest in women-led enterprises that are creating jobs, driving innovation and contributing to environmental sustainability,” Kuteesa said.

She added that green enterprises are opening up opportunities in key sectors while improving household incomes and protecting the environment.

The programme involved months of training, business coaching and investment readiness support to help participants improve competitiveness and access finance and markets.

Catherine Poran, chief executive officer of SBIL, said the graduation reflects the impact of partnerships in enterprise development.

“These enterprises are creating jobs, strengthening local economies and building sustainable businesses that are ready for growth and investment,” Poran said.

According to SBIL, more than 400 applications were received, from which 200 enterprises were shortlisted. Of these, 165 completed the programme, representing an 82 per cent completion rate.

Participants also pitched business expansion plans aimed at scaling operations and improving access to financing.

Michael Seng, WE4D programme lead at GIZ, said the initiative is designed to build resilient women-owned businesses while supporting the region’s green transition.

“Women-led green enterprises have enormous potential to create jobs, reduce environmental degradation and build more sustainable local economies,” he said.

The project is part of the broader WE4D programme, jointly funded by the governments of Norway and the European Union, to promote women’s economic participation and environmentally sustainable enterprise development across East Africa.

Judith Kibuuka, a Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited executive committee member representing chief executive Mark Ocitti, said the programme aligns with Stanbic’s broader commitment to enterprise development.

She said the bank, together with partners, has committed Shs 1 trillion towards financial inclusion, enterprise development, climate financing and infrastructure investment.

“Our objective is to ensure that women-led enterprises are not only trained, but also connected to finance, markets and the support systems they need to grow,” Kibuuka said.

Some beneficiaries said the programme has already improved their businesses.

Anne Kayiwa, founder of Papillon Living, said the training helped her understand enterprise management and formalisation.

“The problem was not money, but knowledge on how to run and manage our enterprises,” she said.

Joan Muchiruka, founder of Iroma Honey, said the mentorship encouraged her to expand operations and pursue certification.

As Uganda pushes industrialisation and job creation, the graduates are expected to contribute to the country’s green economy and sustainable growth.

However, Johnson Abitekaniza, assistant commissioner for training and business skills development in the Ministry of Trade, urged the entrepreneurs to prioritise quality and customer responsiveness.

“Some businesses take too long to respond to clients, which affects sales. The challenge is not always lack of capital, but improving operations,” he said.

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