Kampala, Uganda | March 2, 2026 – As Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate International Women’s Day, dfcu Bank has called for intentional reform in financial systems to better support the growth and sustainability of women-led enterprises, particularly those led by young entrepreneurs.
The call was made during the Women in Business Symposium hosted at Gudie Leisure Farm under the theme “Leading with Power: Knowledge. Voice. Action.”
The symposium brought together policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders, and entrepreneurs to explore leadership development, mental resilience in business, asset protection, alliance-building, and the role of financial institutions in advancing women’s economic empowerment.
Addressing participants, Simon Peter Kiwanuka, Chief Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Control Officer at dfcu Bank, noted that Uganda consistently ranks among the highest globally in female entrepreneurial activity, with women owning nearly 40 percent of businesses in the country.
“Uganda’s strong participation of women in business must now translate into scale, productivity, and competitiveness,” he said, noting that agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy and a critical sector employing the majority of women, girls, and youth.
Kiwanuka also called on men to play a more active role as allies in advancing gender equity, noting that the conversation was particularly relevant for the men in attendance. He emphasized the need for reflection on the role men play in shaping environments where women can thrive within their homes, communities, and workplaces.
He further underscored the importance of introspection among men, including reflection on parenting approaches and the role fathers play in shaping the attitudes and expectations of both sons and daughters. Such influences, he noted, ultimately contribute to shaping broader societal perceptions of women, both locally and globally.
Dr. Gudula Basaza, Director and Founder of Gudie Leisure Farm, highlighted the importance of sustained partnerships in supporting women’s advancement.
“At Gudie Leisure Farm, we are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with dfcu Bank in celebrating women and raising awareness about the persistent challenges that hinder their progress and full participation in economic development,” she said.
She noted that Gudie Leisure Farm has remained at the forefront of empowering young people, particularly women, through practical and transformative training programmes. In the current programme, women from the Teso region have been supported to become compliant and investment-ready, enabling them to access opportunities and resources from institutions that require formal standards and accountability.
Speaking during the symposium, Dr. Victoria Sekitoleko, former Minister of Agriculture and a respected leadership mentor, observed that while policies significantly affect women, they are often absent from the spaces where those policies are shaped.
She noted that this pattern is evident across multiple levels of society, from households and local leadership structures such as LC1 and LC3, to district leadership and even Parliament.
Dr. Sekitoleko also emphasised the importance of women supporting one another, noting that women in leadership positions often experience isolation and therefore require strong networks of support. She encouraged women to build relationships with female leaders in their communities, fostering sisterhood rather than competition or silence.
According to her, strong networks enable women leaders to consult, test ideas, and more effectively represent the interests of their communities.
Participants have also received training in the production of herbs and spices to enhance the quality and market value of their meat products.
The symposium concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to strengthen coordination across finance, policy, and private sector ecosystems: ensuring Uganda’s high levels of female entrepreneurship translate into sustained economic transformation.
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