Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) is working around the corner to ensure that Women Entrepreneurs from all over Uganda benefit from its annual initiative dubbed PSFU Women’s Day Katale.
Speaking at the second edition of the Women’s Day Katale held on 10th and 11th March, 2023 in Kampala, Damali Ssali, the PSFU Chief Programmes and Projects officer noted that plans to make the Katale regional are underway starting with the Western, Northern and Eastern regions. This she noted will be followed with a long term plan of creating a digital version; an e-commerce platform of the Women’s Katale that will have unlimited access.
“We want to impact women from all over Uganda through the regional markets. We are also conceptualizing a digital Women Entrepreneurs’ market place that will always be open. The digital platform will ensure that the Women’s Katale gives limitless opportunities to all women entrepreneurs and potential buyers from within and outside Uganda,” Ssali said.
The Women’s Day Katale is organized by PSFU in collaboration with Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works (YAW) initiative. It provides a unique opportunity for women and girl entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and connect with other like-minded individuals, while advancing important conversations about women’s and girls’ rights and gender equity in the private sector.
“We held the first Women’s Day Katale in Luwero district in 2022 and had more than 100 Exhibitors. This year we moved to Kampala and have been able to accommodate over 250 Women Entrepreneurs. The online registrations for participation are in four digits – more than 1000 submissions,” Stephen Asiimwe, the PSFU Executive Director said, adding;
“Clearly, there is a lot of interest in this Katale concept as it gives women a chance to learn, showcase, and market their businesses. We believe that women play an important role in Uganda’s economic development and we must support them in every way possible.”
Further, Mr Adrian Bukenya, the Mastercard Foundation Uganda Country Head explained that Women play a critical role in Economic Development and thus need to be supported and empowered. He noted that Mastercard Foundation will continue to work with likeminded partners such as PSFU in supporting the creation of thousands of dignified and fulfilling jobs for Women and Youth who make up the majority of Uganda’s labor force.
Minus the over 250 exhibitors, the 2023 edition had several business clinics that equipped participants with different skills. These included a trade simplification one-stop-centre facilitated by Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Uganda National Bureau of Standards, and Opportunity Bank Uganda, a health business clinic by Reproductive Health Uganda a beauty clinic facilitated by Movit Uganda, the Boss Babe business clinic facilitated by Claire Muhire, a creative business clinic facilitated by Zeus the Agency and a technology clinic facilitated by SafeBoda.
Hon. Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs noted that even though Uganda has had several gains on matters gender equality, much more effort must be channeled towards skilling women as there is still a huge gender skills and jobs gap.
“Women owned businesses are smaller, less productive and sustainability remains low. We need to explore how women owned businesses can grow from subsistence to industrial, sustainable and productive industries. Let us start with training and equipping them to compete favorably,” Hajjat Kabanda said.
