In a collaborative effort between Nation Media Group Uganda (NMG-U), dfcu Bank, the Uganda Investment Authority, and Uganda Airlines, 10 women entrepreneurs from the sixth edition of the Rising Woman Initiative have been sent on a week-long mentorship trip to Nairobi, Kenya. The trip is part of the awards given annually to winners of the proposal writing competition, providing an opportunity for the entrepreneurs to learn, network, and gain insights to transform their businesses.
The top three winners of the proposal writing competition receive monetary awards of Shs15 million, Shs10 million, and Shs5 million, along with an all-expenses-paid mentorship trip. The remaining seven winners also benefit from the mentorship trip.
Addressing the entrepreneurs before the flag-off, Ruth Asasira, the Head of Women in Business at dfcu Bank, emphasized the importance of the trip for expanding businesses beyond Uganda. Kate Kiiza, the dfcu Executive Director, encouraged the women to learn from the experience and apply the insights to improve their businesses. Susan Nsibirwa, the NMG-U Managing Director, highlighted the significance of empowering women in business for the betterment of communities and the nation.
During the trip, the women will have the opportunity to interact with businesses in Nairobi, learn from successful entrepreneurs, and explore market linkages. Uganda Airlines pledged support by assisting in exporting products to countries like South Sudan, while the Uganda Investment Authority committed to facilitating business growth through its Small and Medium Enterprises Portal, allowing entrepreneurs to globally advertise their products.
