Uweal to date

Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited Plot 38 Lumumba Avenue, Nakasero Email: [email protected] P. O. Box 10002 Kampala Website: www.uweal.co.ug TEL: 0414 343952 OR 0312271451

UWEAL TODAY

UWEAL USHERS IN A NEW LEADERSHIP

The year began with great anticipation of the exciting activities and changes that were coming to

UWEAL in 2012, the key highlight of the first half of the New Year being the appointment of a new

Board of Directors (BOD) into office. At an Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Kati Kati

Restaurant in Lugogo on the 31st of March, 2012, more than one hundred paid up UWEAL members

elected a new Board into power to govern the association for the next three years. The new

leadership will oversee the development and implementation of key policies, structures and systems

that will support UWEAL to achieve its corporate goals.


NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND THEIR POSITIONS

BOARD POSITION NAME

CHAIRPERSON

DR. GUDULA NAIGA BASAZA

SECRETARY GENERAL ELEANOR BAGEINE

TREASURER PENNINAH NGATEGIZE

PUBLICITY SECRETARY HOPE JEMIMAH KASIMBAZI

CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVE CATHERINE OKOT

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS REPRESENTATIVE RUSIA ORIKIRIZA-BARIHO

BOARD MEMBER DR. MAGGIE KIGOZI

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE)

UWEAL is strongly committed to cultivating a culture of good governance and hence, as part of the

induction process of the new leadership, UWEAL, with support from Vital Voices Global Partnership,

organized a Corporate Governance training for its new BOD, District Chapter Leaders and

Management aimed at equipping them with the relevant skills and knowledge required to

effectively incorporate good governance principles and best practices in the day to day management

of the association. The two-day training took place at Grand Imperial Hotel, Kampala from 29th May

The outgoing and incoming Board of Directors after the handover ceremony at the UWEAL Secretariat. Left to right on the front row:

Mabel Kiggundu outgoing Treasurer, Eleanor Bageine incoming Secretary General, Jennifer Mwijukye outgoing Chairperson, Dr.Gudula

Naiga Basaza incoming Chairperson, Hope Jemimah Kasimbazi incoming Publicity Secretary, Hannah Namuyomba outgoing Member.

Right to left on the back row: Pauline Ofong outgoing Publicity Secretary, Catherine Okot incoming Member (Chapters Representative),

Dr.Maggie Kigozi incoming Member, Penninah Ngategize incoming Treasurer, Rusia Orikiriza-Bariho incoming Member (Young

Entrepreneurs Representative) and Margaret Kulaba outgoing Member (Chapter Representative).


to 30th May, 2012 and was conducted by the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda (ICGU). A

total of twenty (20) participants were awarded certificates for successful completion of the training.

ROLLING OUT THE GIRL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM MANUAL

The Girl Entrepreneurship

Program is an initiative that

creates awareness about

business and entrepreneurship

among young women in

secondary school, tertiary

institutions and universities. It

aims at promoting

entrepreneurship within their

settings using the readily

available resources. The

program provides economic

empowerment and awareness

for young girls. To implement

the program effectively UWEAL

designed a manual that was

based on sequential visits and targeted educational material delivered to different schools and

institutions.

To roll out the Manual, UWEAL carried out presentations in St Joseph’s SS Nsambya for both Ordinary level and Advanced levels

of Education while at Rubaga the first phase of the presentations were targeting Senior Ones and twos.

The manual is a holistic guide to personal and professional development of the students

implemented throughout the academic year within the selected schools. The methodology of the

manual delivery includes interactive exercises, presentations, supplementary facilitations, and

entrepreneurship clubs. Role models are invited to give empowering talks on practical skills based on

their life experiences.

Hannah Namuyomba a member of UWEAL and an expert in entrepreneurship at St.

Joseph’s SS Nsambya. In this session students of Senior One and Two were taught the

basics of entrepreneurship.


The main objective of the GEP program is to inspire girls to have an entrepreneurship spirit and start

businesses of their own at an early age with the intention of supporting young women’s self

awareness, provide basics in business and improve economic sustainability.

DEVELOPING LEADERS THROUGH THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

UWEAL’s 2012 Mentoring Program was

launched on 17th May, 2012 at the

UWEAL Secretariat with Yvonne Finch, a

Coaching Specialist, Facilitator and

Business Strategist with Yvonne Finch

Consulting in South Africa facilitating a

training session for business women

that had signed up for the program.

The Mentoring Program aims at

facilitating personal and professional

growth and development for both

mentors and mentees and will last six

(6) months.

REACHING OUT TO THE RURAL WOMAN

The major objective of UWEALs service delivery this year was to actively support enterprise

development in areas outside Kampala. Entrepreneurship and Business Management training

workshops targeting sixty (60) women owned businesses were held in Gulu, Jinja and Mbarara

during a three week period from 26th June, 2012 to 12th July, 2012. The initiative aimed at

strengthening the business competencies of women owned enterprises in these regions and

addressed key areas including marketing, customer care, human resource management, product

development and financial planning.

Yvonne Finch, Coaching Specialist, Facilitator and Business Strategist facilitating in the e for matching exercise mentors to Mentees


The goal of the training was to facilitate the transition of women owned businesses from micro enterprises to SMEs and to fortify existing women owned SMEs by enhancing their knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship and business management.

The objectives of this intervention were:

a. To encourage women owned businesses to transition from micro enterprises to the SME level

b. To improve the performance of women owned businesses in terms of revenues and profits by equipping them with the relevant business management skills and knowledge.

c. To improve financial literacy of women business owners by exposing them to modern, practical and relevant financial information and practices.

The participants hailed the training as ‘excellent’ and ‘practical’ and appreciated the creative

methods employed by the trainers that helped them understand the applicability of the content.

One of the exciting results from these workshops was the resolution of the business women in

Mbarara district to establish a vibrant Women Entrepreneurs Association which will work with

organizations like UWEAL to extend business development services to the grassroots in this area.

UWEAL is closely working with them to see that this initiative succeeds.

The trainings in Pictures

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1. The Gulu Chapter members pose for a photo after the training 2. A member of the Gulu Chapter receives a certificate of merit after

completion of the training 3. Members of Mbarara Chapter have an energizer to keep them alert during a training session 4. Mabel

Kiggundu one of the Consultants in a training session that was mainly focused on discussion 5. One of the Participants Eunice presenting

group work on behalf of her group 6. Mbarara Chapter participants pose for a group photo with the facilitators and the LC V Chairman

of Mbarara after the training 7. Rhona Ngobi, one of the participants from Jinja women entrepreneurs receives her certificate of merit

after the training 8. Participants of Jinja Chapter pose for a photo with the facilitators after the training.

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MEMBERS BREAKFAST MEETING

UWEAL held its first member breakfast meeting on 15th February, 2012 at the Secretariat. The

meeting which attracted over 35 participants addressed the topic, ‘Keeping Customers,’ and was

facilitated by Ms. Dorothy Tuma, proprietor of DMT Consultants Ltd and author of Keeping

Customers and Getting Their Friends Too! This was followed by another Member Breakfast Meeting

on 17th May on ‘Branding for Business Competitiveness.’ The successful event was facilitated by

Yvonne Finch, a Business Coach and CET Member of Vital Voices Global Partnership which attracted

over fifty five (55) people.

On 21st June, UWEAL hosted its members to yet another breakfast meeting organized around the theme, ‘It is time for Ugandan Women to Rise – Exploring Issues of Women and Power within a Ugandan Business Context’. This breakfast was facilitated by Audrey Addison Williams, who is an International Social Entrepreneur and an expert in both personal and community transformation. She is a proprietor of Addison Williams Inc, a Consultant Firm that offers high level business start up coaching and business diagnosis on companies that want to go to the next level. She inspired the women with her passion and her determination which helped her walk ‘the man’s path’ and get grow through the rank. She encouraged the women to exercise their power and freedom to choose a different life for themselves and exploit it. In her concluding remarks, Audrey called on the women to be more vigilant and determined and to work together to rise to the top positions in all spheres.

CORPORATE BREAKFAST MEETING

On 19th April, 2012, UWEAL organized a Corporate Breakfast Meeting, an exciting and inspiring event

facilitated by seasoned enterprise developer and motivational speaker, Charles Ocici, the Executive

Director of Enterprise Uganda. The event which took place at Imperial Royale Hotel attracted one

hundred and thirty (130) people and addressed the topic, ‘The Competitive Edge: Defining Your Business

and Setting Yourself Apart.’


SHARING IDEAS TO COLLECTIVELY GROW

On 16th March, 2012, UWEAL organized a B2B exchange visit for twenty eight (28) business women to St.

Jude Family Projects in Masaka district. The exchange visit targeted members in the agricultural sector

and was aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of participants in integrating crops and animals

and also at facilitating networking. Participants mainly comprised of agri-business owners and other

women interested in joining the sector.

The Visit in Pictures

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EXPANDING THE EXPORTING POTENTIAL AMONG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

The association organized an ACCESS! Dissemination Workshop on 9th February, 2011 at Hotel

Africana with the main objectives of presenting results to stakeholders, share lessons, receive

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1. Entrepreneurs enjoy a cup of tea that the host prepared for them 2. Entrepreneurs in a class session at the farm 3. The entrepreneurs

learn how to mulch 4. The farm guide teaches the women entrepreneurs on the uses of the herbs that are grown at the farm 5. Women

entrepreneurs learn how to make manure using waste materials on a farm 6. Visiting the piggery section 7. Visiting the wine production

section 8. Demonstration on how to plant vegetables within the smallest unit available to any entrepreneur.


feedback from the women entrepreneurs that benefited from the program and disseminate

information about results and the program to the media.

At the workshop Business Counselors shared with the participants, the technical framework

under which the business counseling was implemented and key learning’s noted as regards

participating enterprises. They shared practical issues facing women entrepreneurs and how

Business Counseling Framework was important at addressing them with detailed

recommendations to the enterprises for implementation

During the workshop, four participants including Grace Nandawula, Center Manager, Textile

Development Agency (TEXDA), Joy Lwanga, MD, Shalom Organic Ltd, Annette Ayamba, MD, Your

Choice Agro-processing Ltd and Maria Murisa Gateja, proprietor, Kwetu Africa Ltd were recognized

for the outstanding growth and improvements they had made in their businesses. The four

entrepreneurs were selected to advance to the next stage of Market Access where they will be

supported to participate in regional and international marketing opportunities including trade fairs.

GROWING OUR WINGS TO THE REGIONAL LEVEL-UWEAL CHAIRS THE EAST AFRICAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS PLATFORM (EAWIBP)

Towards the end of 2011, with the support of Trademark East Africa (TMEA), the East African

Business Council (EABC) established the East African

Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP) with the view of

putting in place mechanisms to address challenges faced by

women-owned businesses within the region. The Platform

brings together national apex bodies and associations of

women in business from the five East African Partner States.

With the view of articulating its mandate and objectives,

the Platform developed a three- year Strategic Plan with a

vision of; A Women’s Centre of Excellence for Intra and

Extra –EAC Trade and its mission is To Position and

Catalyze the Participation of Women-Owned Businesses in

EAC’s Integration Process. On Thursday, May 24, 2012

EABC together with Trade Mark East Africa launched the

East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP) and its

Dorothy Tuma a member of UWEAL and the

Chairperson of East African Women in Business

Platform (EAWiBP)


three-year Strategic Plan at the East African all Suites Hotel in Arusha and Dorothy Tuma who is an

expert in International Trade will chair the platform for the next three years.

The Strategic Plan envisages that the Plat-form will achieve the following outcomes within the three year

period;

1. Increased effective participation of women in business in EAC integration processes.

2. Improved economic contribution of women in business in EAC Partner States.

3. Increased progression of women-owned enterprises in EAC from informal to formal status.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Celebration of 25 Years of Existence

2012 will close in Merry Celebration for UWEAL as we celebrate 25 years of excellence in serving

women entrepreneurs. The celebrations will start on the 25th October, 2012 and end on the 26th

October, 2012 with activities ranging from press briefs, a business forum and a parade.

Month of the Woman Entrepreneur (MOWE)

The organization and implementation of MOWE events is a means of supporting women

entrepreneurs to consolidate their own networks, have their concerns given due attention by policy

makers and have their roles as entrepreneurs recognized by the wider community. This year a

combination of awareness creation campaigns, enterprise skills trainings, advocacy forums, award

dinners, networking events and exhibitions by women entrepreneurs will implement.

MOWE’s target beneficiaries will include individual women entrepreneurs, Women Entrepreneurs

Associations (WEAs), employers’ organizations, key Government ministries like Trade and Gender,

donors, business development service providers and other members of the public and private sector.


UWEAL calls upon all stakeholders to come and participate as we celebrate the spirit of

entrepreneurship.

The Economic Advocacy Campaigns 2012

One of the mandates for UWEAL throughout the years has been advocacy. Since 2011, UWEAL has

been strongly engaging the public in its advocacy activities in abide to create an enabling

environment for women to do business. This year, with support from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

in Netherlands and through Vital Voices, UWEAL will launch a new program code named Supporting

Public Advocacy for Regional Competitiveness (SPARC).

The program’s main aim is to increase women’s economic engagement in the labor force and

entrepreneurship, creating a more enabling environment for women’s economic engagement and

greater poverty alleviation. UWEAL through consultations with other stakeholders indentified an

advocacy issue of broadening and improving women’s access to economic opportunities in Uganda

by identifying, promoting and developing appropriate interventions that will support women’s

economic empowerment.

UWEAL has signed the Grant Award Agreement with implementation process expected to start in

August 2012 that will see UWEAL engage in awareness creation, lobbying and development of

appropriate reforms, policies and strategies to address the issues identified.

The Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts

The Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts (EinH) training is an excellent program that prepares women entrepreneurs who own handcrafts businesses to compete successfully on the global market by enhancing their product development and business management competencies. A 5 day intensive training addressing key areas such as product development, marketing, business management, financial management, export and other disciplines will take place from 24th September to 28th September, 2012. The program is supported by Vital Voices Global Partnership and the ExxonMobil Foundation.


UWEAL Marketing Basics for Women Entrepreneurs (UMBWE)

UWEAL in collaboration with aBi Trust is set to begin implementing the UWEAL Marketing Basics for Women Entrepreneurs (UMBWE) program. UMBWE is a new program that will seek to improve the competitiveness of 200 women owned enterprises the agri-business and handcrafts sectors by equipping tem with marketing basics.

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

UWEAL handles different projects and needs professional consultants and trainers. We are therefore calling upon all consultants interested in working with UWEAL to bring their CVs to the UWEAL Secretariat. Please note that submission of a CV does not imply that UWEAL has committed to awarding you a contract for provision of the above named services. JOBS

UWEAL is currently seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from service providers to develop its advocacy strategy.

We are also looking for an individual or firm to carry out a baseline survey on women’s access and engagement in the NAADS program - Phase 11.

For more details on the above, please contact the secretariat.

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