Entebbe, Uganda | dfcu Bank, in partnership with MTN Uganda and key stakeholders, marked a significant milestone for women in business at the Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Accelerator Programme event, HER Power Tee, held at Entebbe Golf Club on November 1, 2025.
The initiative celebrated progress in women’s economic empowerment and highlighted their growing participation in Uganda’s supplier network.
The AWE Accelerator Programme, launched in 2023, has made notable strides, increasing women’s representation in MTN Uganda’s supplier network from 7% in 2023 to 15% in 2024.
Through the programme, 118 women-owned enterprises have successfully been onboarded.
The initiative is supported by a strategic partnership involving MTN Uganda, MTN Mobile Money Uganda, dfcu Bank, UN Women, American Tower Corporation (ATC), Innovation Village, and NSSF Hi-Innovators.
Speaking at the event, Annette Kiconco, Chief Retail Banking Officer at dfcu Bank, emphasized the Bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting women in business.
She highlighted that the AWE programme aligns with dfcu Bank’s mission of transforming lives and businesses across Uganda.
Kiconco explained that dfcu Bank’s Women in Business (WiB) Programme, launched in 2007, has been a pioneer in providing tailored financial solutions, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to women entrepreneurs.
Through the AWE partnership, dfcu Bank has introduced a dedicated package of financial and non-financial support for participating women entrepreneurs.
This includes subsidized interest rates, relaxed collateral requirements, and business advisory services, all designed to enable women-owned businesses to scale, secure corporate contracts, and grow profitability.
Since its inception, the dfcu Women in Business Programme has reached over 80,000 women entrepreneurs nationwide, offering a platform that equips them with financial access, knowledge, and networks to thrive in competitive markets.
Complementing these efforts, dfcu Bank also implemented the GROW Project (Generating Growth Opportunities for Women Enterprises), a Government of Uganda initiative supported by the World Bank and coordinated by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), to strengthen women-led enterprises’ access to finance and capacity-building.
Despite women owning 38% of businesses in Uganda, they remain underrepresented in high-growth sectors and face challenges in accessing finance and large-scale procurement opportunities.
Kiconco underscored that partnerships like AWE help bridge this gap, creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem where women can compete and succeed.
She added that providing women with the right tools, capital, and networks enables them not only to run businesses but also to transform communities.
The AWE 1.0 celebration at Entebbe Golf Club was both a recognition of progress and a call to action for continued investment in women entrepreneurs, who are positioned to drive Uganda’s next phase of economic growth.