U.S. Embassy backs 99 women entrepreneurs in gaining essential business expertise

On Feb. 9, a total of 99 women entrepreneurs hailing from Kampala, Lira, and Fort Portal completed the 7th cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program.

This significant milestone, made possible through collaboration between the U.S. Embassy and the SHONA Group, highlights a shared dedication to advancing women’s empowerment across various sectors including education, agribusiness, healthcare, and tourism, officials said.

The AWE Program, spearheaded by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and administered by the U.S., stands as a beacon of support for women’s economic participation and leadership development.

The program participants learned from U.S. business development models and are now eligible for grant funding opportunities from the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and business loans ranging from Shs3.5 million to Shs35 million through SHONA Capital.

The graduands also join the prestigious network of U.S. government exchange program alumni, expanding their access to global opportunities and networks according to Ellen Masi, the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Counsellor. Masi said: “I am inspired by the Uganda women entrepreneurs who are also AWE alumni. As the Embassy, we encourage the alumni to organize themselves and create opportunities so that we can support them beyond the training and the Dream Builder program.”

Joachim Ewechu, SHONA Group co-founder and CEO, reflected on the program’s success, saying: “By investing in their growth, we are contributing to the economic development of Uganda while impacting livelihoods in our communities. Our commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs remains steadfast, and we look forward to future collaborations with the U.S. Embassy in Uganda.”

SHONA has over ten years of experience supporting entrepreneurs to grow Good Businesses in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, and beyond by giving them practical advice and expertise, helping them secure the right financing, and expanding their networks.

Since 2013, SHONA has worked with more than 500 SMEs and 2,000 entrepreneurs across multiple sectors, including agriculture, financial services, health care, education, manufacturing, water and sanitation, and energy.

These businesses have grown to create over 1,700 jobs and collectively raise over US$33 million in investment.