GROW Project is not only about loans, women advised

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Women entrepreneurs have been urged to take advantage of the GROW Project—Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises, a government initiative aimed at expanding access to finance, skills development, and business support for women across the country.

The call was made by Dr Ruth Aisha Biyinzika Kasolo, the National Project Coordinator, while presenting at the PAKASA Forum held on Saturday at the Enterprise Uganda offices in Butabika. The forum was organised by Vision Group in partnership with Enterprise Uganda and supported by sponsors including Centenary Bank, Pearl Bank, Pepsi, NSSF, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), among others.

This year’s PAKASA Forum ran under the theme “Creating Opportunities and Ideas for Growing Businesses."

Dr Biyinzika told participants that the GROW Project is designed to lift women-owned businesses by offering affordable loans, business skills, apprenticeship opportunities, and support in formalising enterprises.

She advised women to access the project’s services through the GROW website, where detailed information on eligibility, application processes, and available programs is provided. She added that further support can be sought at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and Enterprise Uganda, both of which offer guidance on how women can benefit.

“We want women to access these services easily. The project is meant for them, and all the information they need is readily available,” she said.

Loan access made easier

According to Dr Biyinzika, the government has made deliberate efforts to make the loans more accessible:

“The minimum loan amount has been reduced from sh4 million to sh2 million, with one of the lowest interest rates in the market at 10%,” she revealed.

She further noted that women who repay their loans on time will receive a rebate of 5–10%, which could reduce the interest to nearly zero for diligent borrowers.

Support beyond financing

Dr Biyinzika explained that beyond loans, the GROW Project offers apprenticeship placements for women seeking practical hands-on experience in trades such as bakery, tailoring, craft-making and other vocational sectors.

The project also supports women in formalising their businesses, acquiring certifications, and improving product packaging—particularly for those targeting export markets.

Experts emphasise business formalisation

Dr Biyinzika was joined on a panel by Dr Daniel Kisekka, Manager of INVITE Export Firm Support; Mathias Mobius, Co-founder of StartHub Africa; and Africa Kirenga, URSB Registrar of Complaints.

The panel underscored the importance of formalising businesses, noting that registered enterprises benefit from government programs, can own assets legally, access loans, attract investors, and maintain continuity even after the owner’s death.

This year’s PAKASA Forum attracted entrepreneurs, innovators, students, and business leaders seeking insights on how to build sustainable enterprises. Through initiatives such as GROW, the government and its stakeholders aim to create more opportunities for women to scale up their businesses and actively participate in national economic development.