The Graca Machel Trust (GMT)’s Women members of Network of Africa Business Women – Uganda (NABW-U), under their organisation of Women in Self Employment Organization (WISE), shared their experiences and challenges as entrepreneurs. The conversation was centred around challenges fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and how to deal with them. In addition, the series encouraged other young women in business, some of whom were losing hope in the industry.
One of the interviewees of the day, Daphine Naturinda, spoke of how she depends on sales from her small chips shop to make ends meet. Daphine noted that training offered by NABW-U and WISE during the pandemic was helping her grow her business and reach more customers.
A documentary showing upcoming young businesswomen – Joan Nantongo – a boutique owner and Yvette Mulangira – a beautician- was also televised. They shared their personal experiences as they struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to business financing, digitalisation of their businesses and personal determination were among their challenges.
The women also shared how vendors suffer while doing business because of ignorance of their human and legal rights; thus, they are taken for granted. They talked about how their goods are confiscated by law enforcement personnel, yet they lacked security platforms to report their ordeal to, yet they earn meagre resources. Long time these challenges have exacerbated poverty and gender inequality.
This article was compiled by Hope Jemimah Kasimbazi – the Treasurer NABWU and founder member of the Women in Self Employment (WISE) organisation, one of the GMT Networks in Uganda and a member of NABW-U.
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