As we continue to observe the Women’s month, MTN Uganda is delighted to announce the unveiling of 118 exceptional women entrepreneurs who have been selected as service providers under the Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program.
Launched in October last year, this initiative underscores MTN's commitment to empowering and uplifting women in business across Uganda.
The AWE program was designed with the aim to; grow the female MTN supplier base, build the capacity
of women businesses through skills development as well as building sustainable business eco systems
through mentorship and coaching programs.
Through a rigorous selection process following its expression of interest call, MTN has identified and
partnered with talented women entrepreneurs from diverse sectors including I.T, network, commercial,
professional, and facility-related services.
According to The MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officers, Sylvia Mulinge, the selected women have
demonstrated exceptional skills, passion, and determination; showcasing the incredible potential and
versatility of female-led businesses in our country.
"We are thrilled to unveil these remarkable women entrepreneurs who have not only met but exceeded
our expectations," said Mulinge. "By choosing these women entrepreneurs as service providers to MTN
Uganda, we are not just investing in their businesses; we are investing in the future of Uganda. We
believe that by empowering women economically, we create a ripple effect that benefits families,
communities, and ultimately, our nation's prosperity."
As part of MTN Uganda's commitment to gender diversity and inclusion, the company has significantly
increased the representation of women suppliers.
"By enlisting these exceptional 118 women entrepreneurs as part of the MTN supplier base, I am pleased
to note that we have moved the needle from 7% women suppliers in 2023 to 15% in 2024," added
Mulinge.
The event was presided over by renowned entrepreneur and founder of the Gudie Farm, Prof. Gudula
Naiga Basaza, who also doubles as the Chairperson of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Limited
(UWEAL) advised the women entrepreneurs to be focused, resilient, tenacious and compliant, for their
businesses to thrive.
MTN Uganda extends its gratitude to all partners and mentors who have contributed to the success of the
Advancing Women Entrepreneurs program, including DFCU Bank (Women in Business), PSFU, NSSF Hi
Innovators, ATC, UN Women, The Innovation Village, and MTN MoMo.
MTN is committed to supporting women-owned businesses across Uganda, backed by the strong belief
that Together, we’re unstoppable.
Dorothy Kabagambe Semanda- CEO ATC Uganda
ATC Uganda is committed to working alongside MTN Uganda to ensure the success of the AWE
program. As ATC, we have already ring-fenced work that is to be done by women. We shall focus on
training women on running successful construction companies with emphasis on practical skills that are
required in the sector.
Kate K Kiiza- ED DFCU Bank
DFCU is backing the AWE programme with tailored financing; subsidized interest rates, and relaxed
collateral for participants to help women thrive in today’s competitive business world. To build capacity,
we’ll provide training in financial management, ESG, and gender diversity. We have set up a Women in
Business (WiB) advisory council and a centre accessible to all women.
Paulina Chiwangu – UN Women Country Representative Uganda
As Women, we should work together to eliminate all forms of violence against us. We’ve to make sure
that peace and security prevail above all else for our businesses to thrive.
Dr. Aisha Kasolo – Project Director (GROW) PSFU
The decision for MTN to look at women and consider them for these male dominated spheres makes
Uganda proud.
Richard Zulu –Lead Founder, Outbox
Seeing big corporates ring-fence part of their budget for women entrepreneurs is very impressive. This
speaks volumes of where we are headed as a nation
Richard Yego- MTN MoMo CEO
We want to see more women in the Mobile Money business. We encourage all our suppliers to digitize
their financial transactions through MTN MoMo.
