Last Updated on: 21st August 2022, 10:40 am
Greater Busoga Women Entrepreneurs Conference and Exhibition gives the common woman from Busoga top priority.
By Nelly Otto
Jinja – August 19, 2022: Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga will preside over the opening ceremony of a five-day Conference and Exhibition for Women Entrepreneurs in Busoga.
The conference kicks off on Monday, August 22, 2022, at PMM Girls School in Jinja.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja will officiate at the closing ceremony on August 26, 2022, while third Deputy Prime Minister Hajjat Rukia Isanga Nakadama, together with ministers from Labour, Gender and Social Development, Trade, ICT and National Guidance, among others are also expected to grace the unique conference.
The exhibition is being organized by Busoga Business Community (BBC) and will run under the theme: “Revamping Busoga’s Economy, the Role of a Woman.”
The theme is derived from the Book of Judges 5:7 where Prophetess Deborah is depicted as one of the most influential women in the Bible.
The Executive Director (ED) of BBC Gabula DM Kyankone says the conference will attract participants from the traditional Greater Busoga districts of Jinja, Kamuli, Buyende, Mayuge, Iganga, and Kaliro.
Others are Namutumba, Bugweri, Bugiri, Namayingo, Kibuku, Palisa and Buikwe, Kayunga and Buvuma.
Addressing a news conference at Innovation Village situated along Jinja Main street, Kyankone, says the exhibition is to rejuvenate and motivate the woman entrepreneur in the post-COVID-19 era, encouraging business networking among the different business entities and entrepreneurs.
“…the women shall be showcasing their various abilities, talents, skills and expertise in business as we set ourselves on a focused journey to transform the lives and livelihoods of our people…,” he told the media.
Speaking during the same news briefing, Mary Mbabazi Bagalana Bagenda the chairperson of the Women’s League justifies the conference as a very “unique opportunity” for the women in the region to compare notes with their peers.
Bagalana says, unlike other shows or exhibitions where only big organizations and companies participate, the Greater Busoga Women Entrepreneurs Conference and Exhibition gives the common woman from Busoga top priority.
“…it does not matter how humble the type of enterprises the woman is doing whether it’s tomatoes, charcoal, backyard or urban farming… we want them to participate and learn from one another…,” the soft-speaking Bagenda said.
One of the leading farmers engaged in goat rearing, Annette Mukombe, an ICT expert who also teaches at PMM Girls says they have also come out with several innovations that spur women entrepreneurs.
Mukombe reveals to reporters that using her expertise, alongside others, they have developed an application (App) that makes it easy for the women entrepreneurs in the region to access information and services from different providers.
Other partners that have come on board include Stanbic Bank whose Jinja Branch Manager Bruno Agaba says they are ready and willing to connect the women entrepreneurs to customers using their Stanbic Business Incubator.
“…these partners can fund your projects while the customers will buy your products and we are also ready to support your business activities with loans at a very friendly rate of 15.5%per annum…,” Agaba announced.
The organizers are optimistic that the Conference and Exhibition (the first of its kind in the region) is going to attract many partners from the central and local governments, financial institutions and Civil Society Organizations.