Dr Aggrey Davis Kibenge
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Hundreds of women entrepreneurs across Uganda are experiencing remarkable business growth and improved livelihoods, thanks to affordable financing under the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project.
The $217 million Government of Uganda initiative, funded by the World Bank, is aimed at increasing access to low-interest loans, training, and business support, enabling women-owned enterprises to transition from micro to small and medium-scale businesses.
According to Dr Aggrey Davis Kibenge, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the project has already registered significant success within its first year of operation.
“The basic requirement for access is that the intending beneficiary is a woman engaged in entrepreneurial activity and is able to provide some form of security as a demonstration of commitment to repay the loan,” he explained. “We are already seeing numerous success stories emerging from across the country.”
Dr Kibenge emphasized that the project’s nationwide coverage reflects its strong focus on inclusivity. “The project is targeting 136 districts and 11 cities, including 13 refugee-host districts. This broad geographical spread ensures that women in both rural and urban areas can access affordable credit and grow their businesses,” he said.
So far, Shs69.2 billion has been disbursed to participating financial institutions to support lending. A total of 4,889 loans have been issued under three funding tiers. Of these, 3,672 loans (71.11 percent) fall within Level One, ranging from Shs4 million to Shs20 million, while 657 loans (13.44 percent) are in Level Two, and 560 loans (11.45 percent) in Level Three.
“The impact has been transformative,” Dr Kibenge noted. “About 35,000 micro enterprises have grown into small businesses, while 4,000 small enterprises have transitioned into medium enterprises. Additionally, 295,000 direct jobs and over 1.18 million indirect jobs have been created.”
He added that the project also targets 3,000 refugee-owned businesses, further strengthening economic inclusion.
“As we move forward, GROW is not just providing financing—it is building sustainable enterprises, creating jobs, and empowering women to actively contribute to Uganda’s economic development,” Dr Kibenge said.
