Edith Sanyu Birungi
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Edith Sanyu Birungi is a work horse, an enterprising woman who deserves all the support in the world. Her journey in the restaurant business began eight years ago in Gulu after her brothers encouraged her to join the trade. Motivated by their support, she opened her first small eatery, hoping to build a sustainable livelihood.
Lady luck smiled at her when she encountered the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises Project (GROW Project). She is one of the women who credits GROW for having transformed their fortunes by enabling them to expand small ventures into thriving businesses.
She now stands tall as one of the serious investors in the restaurant business in northern Uganda. She has managed to groom her enterprise into a successful hospitality business.
Rocky start
For Birungi, the start was far from easy. After only eight months in operation, a dispute with her landlord forced her to close the restaurant and return to Kampala.
Despite the setback, Birungi remained passionate about the food business. With encouragement from loyal customers, she later returned to Gulu after one of them helped her secure new premises for her restaurant.
Her business fortunes took a major turn when she discovered the GROW loan programme through social media. The affordable annual interest rate of about 10.5 percent encouraged her to apply for financial support through Centenary Bank in Gulu.
Birungi successfully secured a Shs70 million loan under the programme, repayable over two years.
The financing enabled her to expand the restaurant by increasing its seating capacity and purchasing modern kitchen equipment to improve service delivery. She also diversified her investment by opening a guesthouse in Gulu town, creating an additional stream of income.
Employment opportunities created
The expansion significantly boosted her business operations and employment opportunities. Her workforce grew from 12 employees to 35 staff members, providing jobs for many young people in the community.
Through the GROW Project, women entrepreneurs in the restaurant and hospitality sector receive low-interest loans, specialised training in hotel management and food safety, as well as practical apprenticeship opportunities. The programme also supports business formalisation and offers access to shared modern equipment to increase productivity.
“I believe women should work hard, learn how to sustain themselves, and aim for steady growth while being honest in their business dealings,” Birungi said.
She expressed gratitude to Centenary Bank and the GROW Project for supporting her entrepreneurial journey and helping her expand her business.
Birungi’s restaurant and guesthouse are now thriving, and she hopes to continue improving her services and expanding further with the knowledge and opportunities provided by the programme.
