KAMPALA, UGANDA: 03 MAY 2026— The Government of Uganda is challenging long-standing social barriers through the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, an initiative designed to elevate women from mere laborers to primary decision-makers in the business sector.
Implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) in partnership with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and backed by the World Bank, the project is currently scaling its efforts to increase the competitiveness and productivity of women-owned enterprises across the nation.
The GROW Project’s latest outreach addresses a common misconception: “A woman should work hard, but not decide.” By confronting this myth, the project highlights a critical economic truth—that labor without agency limits growth.
According to project data, when women transition into leadership and decision-making roles: Businesses Improve: Enterprises become more organized, competitive, and productive, Families Strengthen: Women traditionally reinvest a higher portion of their income into the health, education, and nutrition of their households, and Economies Scale: Moving women from micro-businesses to larger-scale enterprises creates a “multiplier effect” for national development.
“When she decides, we all grow,” the campaign emphasizes, positioning female agency as a prerequisite for national progress rather than just a social goal.
The GROW Project is specifically tailored to provide women entrepreneurs with the resources they need to move beyond manual labor and into strategic business management. This includes access to specialized credit lines, technical training, and infrastructure designed to help women-owned firms compete on a global scale.
The initiative is inclusive of all regions, ensuring that women in both urban centers and rural districts—including those in refugee-hosting communities—have a seat at the decision-making table.
How to Get Involved
To support this shift toward female-led economic growth, the GROW Project has established local support systems in every district.
Local Contact: Entrepreneurs should reach out to their District or City GROW Project Focal Person.
Toll-Free Assistance: For direct support and inquiries, members of the public can call the toll-free line at 0800307777.
Through the GROW Project, the Republic of Uganda and its partners are not just investing in businesses; they are investing in the power of a woman’s choice to build a stronger nation.
