Women tipped to improve cottage industries in Uganda

KAMPALA - Women in Uganda have been encouraged to take advantage of the rapidly growing delivery services industry to establish and run home-based businesses as part of efforts to reduce the burden of unpaid care work while expanding women’s economic opportunities.

During the Annual Research Symposium on Unpaid Care and Domestic Work (UCDW) organised by Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) on Tuesday, May 19,  several delegates proposed different avenues to improve women's financial status.

The symposium at Four Points by Sheraton Kampala in Kololo, Kampala, attracted different trades, including government officials, Members of Parliament, civil society leaders, development partners and researchers.

Discussion centred on how economic programmes can better respond to women’s unpaid care responsibilities.

In her submission, Dr Angela Nakafeero, a commissioner at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, said digital platforms and delivery services are creating new opportunities for women to run businesses from their homes without abandoning family responsibilities.

Nakafeero explained that many women continue to spend long hours on unpaid domestic work such as childcare, cooking, cleaning and caring for family members, limiting their participation in formal employment and business.

However, she noted that changing technology and urban market systems are now enabling women to engage in income-generating activities from home.

“Today, somebody can cook food at home and use delivery systems to reach customers without necessarily renting a shop or leaving home for the whole day,” Nakafeero said.

She said the expansion of boda boda delivery services and digital platforms has made it easier for women to market products, receive orders and supply customers directly from their homes.

According to Nakafeero, home-based enterprises can particularly benefit women with young children or heavy domestic responsibilities who may not easily operate businesses from distant commercial centres.

Arguing that home-based businesses are ideal for women managing domestic duties and childcare, Nakafeero also listed proposals to help these women succeed digitally.
These include: affordable internet, lower tech taxes, and government investment in accessible technology.

The discussions followed the presentation of research findings by UWONET titled “An Analysis of Economic Government Programmes for Responsiveness to the Care Economy.”

Susan Achieng, the coordinator for women’s rights and access to justice at UWONET, said the study examined how government economic programmes are helping women balance entrepreneurship with unpaid care responsibilities.

The research, conducted between 2023 and 2025 in Kampala Metropolitan’s Nakawa Division and Gulu City, found that programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) are increasingly helping women access financing and economic opportunities.

“The Parish Development Model was found to be very successful because of the quota of 30% that is provided to women so that they can have resources for economic empowerment,” Achieng said.

Achieng said delivery services and digital business models are becoming increasingly important for women entrepreneurs because they reduce transport challenges and allow women to manage both household and business responsibilities more efficiently. (Credit: Alfred Ochwo)

Some beneficiaries reportedly hired domestic workers and farm assistants to reduce their workload, while others invested in labour-saving technologies such as solar dryers and ox ploughs to improve productivity.

Achieng said delivery services and digital business models are becoming increasingly important for women entrepreneurs because they reduce transport challenges and allow women to manage both household and business responsibilities more efficiently.

The symposium also highlighted broader government investments in water access, education and childcare support as key interventions in reducing the burden of unpaid care work carried mainly by women and girls.

“When water is closer to households, then the domestic work, which is predominantly done by women and girls, becomes much easier,” Achieng explained.

Researchers also observed that some harmful social norms still discourage women’s economic independence, sometimes leading to domestic conflict or gender-based violence when women begin earning income.

However, programmes such as the GROW Project are helping communities appreciate the importance of women’s participation in business and entrepreneurship.

Other organisations that participated in the symposium included: Oxfam, the Platform for Labour Action, which presented findings from a national study on employment in Uganda’s domestic work sector.

The International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) also led discussions on social protection for marginalised women, while the Uganda Water and Sanitation Network (UWASNET) unveiled findings on sexual corruption in access to water and sanitation services.

Among the notable attendees were former Workers Member of Parliament Agnes Kunihira and legislator Flavia Kabahenda, and UWONET executive director Rita Aciro.