By Opio Brian
Lira, Uganda | In a powerful show of solidarity, advocacy, and practical engagement, women entrepreneurs in the Lango sub-region converged for a one-day Business Clinic organized by the Women in Business Awards (WiBAS).
Held under the theme “Handholding Women for Business Sustainability”, the clinic attracted stakeholders from financial institutions, civil society, government, and private sector players seeking to break barriers affecting women-led businesses in Northern Uganda.
The event, hosted in collaboration with Post Bank, Dfcu Bank, Pride Microfinance Bank, and Wendi, opened up candid discussions around the systemic challenges women face, particularly concerning access to credit, financial literacy, business sustainability, and market linkages.
Beatrice Molly Abang, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Lira, emphasized that training a woman is equivalent to training a nation.
She noted the importance of women uniting and speaking with one voice, suggesting that if women were more united, nothing would be difficult.
She also praised trailblazing women in Lango, including Lillian Grace Ocari and Beatrice Lagada, but pointed to continuing gaps in record-keeping, financial literacy, and communication.
Abang acknowledged government initiatives like the Parish Development Model and Emyooga, but cautioned that access to traditional bank loans remains difficult due to high interest rates and lack of collateral.
She urged institutions such as Post Bank, Pride Microfinance, and Housing Finance Bank to review their lending models and create products tailored to women, especially those in small and medium businesses.
She further stated that the issue extends beyond access to finance, explaining that a secure business environment is also essential.
She noted that many women face threats from street goons, especially market vendors and mobile money operators.
She discouraged banks from pushing women into high-interest loans and advocated for expansion of GROW soft loans.
Susan Ojok, a produce dealer and Chairperson of Lango Agro Input Dealers, spoke about discrimination from banks and suppliers.
She said women are underlooked, with banks viewing them as liabilities and suppliers treating them as shop attendants.
She stressed that despite business growth, the lack of documentation like land titles bars many women from accessing loans, with most credit agreements still requiring a man’s signature.
Polline Achola discussed how men still hold too much control over women, especially in business decisions.
She highlighted issues like a lack of child-friendly business environments, poor road networks, inadequate storage for perishable goods, and a disconnect between market demand and supply.
She emphasized that many women need entrepreneurial training to support long-term business thinking.
Athieno Eveline, a vendor at Lira Main Market, said her challenges revolve around poor sanitation, lack of hygiene, and health concerns in the market environment.
She also noted that power interruptions and excessive taxes damage stock and profits. She lamented that women spend a lot on health due to these conditions.
Christine Ogwang, a bakery owner, shared that despite listening to radio advertisements from Post Bank and the GROW project, her experience did not match what was promised.
She said she started her bakery using NSSF savings and even imported soap-making machines from China.
However, after a Post Bank officer assessed her business and showed interest, they never followed through with the loan.
She was later told that GROW only funds agribusiness, and questioned why it was advertised broadly if that was the case.
Post Bank’s Lira Branch Manager, Enock Okwara, acknowledged the challenge of collateral, stating that forming groups like VSLAs helps women access collective loans and manage risk.
He emphasized that the bank is working on better solutions for women entrepreneurs.
Henry Ekwang Cilodyang, the GROW Project Coordinator for Northern Uganda, explained that GROW funds are only available to already registered businesses and not startups.
He said many applicants are denied loans due to existing debts or plans to use the funds to repay previous loans.
He added that GROW’s aim is to ensure business sustainability and avoid excessive debt.
Winifred Acan, Lira’s District Commercial Officer, said the government remains committed to helping women grow their businesses under programs like PDM and Emyooga.
She urged women to gain confidence and maintain a strong vision for their businesses while balancing their roles as mothers.
She added that it’s possible to be a mother and a businesswoman and encouraged women to form groups to benefit from collective funding and training.
Winnie Lawoko Olwee, one of WiBAS’ co-founders, said their mission is to create an enabling environment for women-led SMEs.
She explained that many issues stem from mismatches between government policy and what happens in practice, and between media narratives and grassroots realities.
WiBAS, she said, helps bridge these gaps by building platforms like SACCOs and VSLAs.
She added that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of informal businesses, and WiBAS is now helping women-led SMEs become resilient and compliant.
Grace Achire Labongo, another co-founder, said WiBAS was launched to address information gaps. She emphasized that an informed woman is an empowered woman.
She noted that most women enter business without long-term planning or training and that WiBAS offers hands-on support to help women grow sustainably even if they don’t qualify for loans immediately.
Labongo added that many women produce excellent goods but lack reliable markets. WiBAS is now working to connect women with consistent buyers and promote formal marketing channels.
Beatrice Lagada, a board member of Post Bank Uganda, praised WiBAS for engaging key stakeholders and taking services closer to the people.
She called on the bank to improve its onboarding process for VSLAs so women can better manage their finances.
Lagada also raised a concern about parenting amid the hustle for business. She shared that seeing women vending late at night leaves her worried about the children left unattended at home.
She stressed that without proper guidance, especially for girl children, the risks are high.
The WiBAS Business Clinic highlighted both the promise and the obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs in Lango.
While government-backed initiatives like PDM, Emyooga, and GROW show potential, structural challenges such as collateral requirements, misinformation, cultural norms, and weak infrastructure continue to stifle growth.
The clinic served not only as a forum for dialogue but as a call to action for financial institutions, policymakers, and community leaders to better support women striving to build Uganda’s future from the grassroots up.