Kampala, Uganda — Over 600 women groups across Uganda are set to benefit from the newly launched Women’s Economic Empowerment for the Green Transformation Project (WEEG), an initiative designed to strengthen women-led enterprises in environmentally friendly sectors. Implemented under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP), the project is expected to directly impact more than 5,000 women nationwide.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development, Betty Amongi, applauded rural women already turning waste and agricultural products into profitable green businesses. She cited inspiring examples such as charcoal briquettes made from rubbish, banana wine, herbal remedies from vegetables, and shoes crafted from recycled tires. “Every little support you give to rural women in terms of capital, they utilize it much more than us in offices,” she said. “If you empower a woman, the benefits stay at the household level and support the whole family. That is smart economics.”
The project will provide women-led groups with training, technical support, and greater access to markets, enabling them to grow beyond small-scale operations and compete in the green economy. Funded by Germany, the EU, and Norway through the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), the program is part of the wider Women’s Employment Promotion for the Green Transformation of Africa (WE4D) initiative, which focuses on sustainable agriculture, agro-processing, renewable energy, waste management, eco-tourism, and environmentally friendly construction. German Ambassador to Uganda, Matthias Schauer, emphasized the importance of the program, noting that increasing the competitiveness of women’s groups in the green sector creates employment, raises incomes, and protects the environment at the same time.
One of the biggest challenges for women entrepreneurs remains product certification. Without approval from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), many innovative products cannot reach supermarkets or international markets. WEEG aims to close this gap by supporting certification, branding, and compliance with international standards. The experience of groups like Bakyala Tukole Amanda Mukasasiro in Masaka highlights the potential. Starting with just 10 members in 2018, the group has grown to 40, increasing its capital from UGX 7 million to UGX 16 million. They produce eco-friendly charcoal briquettes, each capable of burning for eight hours at a cost of only UGX 2,500. With the new project, group secretary Diana Babirye expressed hope for better machines, more training, and access to bigger markets.
The initiative also aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040, which emphasizes inclusive and sustainable development. Angela Nakafeero, Commissioner for Gender and Women Affairs, observed that although Uganda has one of the highest rates of women-owned businesses in Africa, most remain small-scale because of limited access to finance, technology, and markets. By closing these gaps, the project will help industrialize women’s enterprises at the household level. Barnard Mujini, Commissioner for Equal Opportunities, called it “an industrial revolution starting in our communities.”
In her closing remarks, Minister Amongi urged government agencies, private sector partners, and local leaders to rally behind women entrepreneurs and support their innovations. “When we invest in women, we invest in families, communities, and the nation,” she said. “Women’s economic empowerment is not charity; it is smart economics.”
The WEEG project is more than just an empowerment initiative it is a pathway to sustainable growth, enabling Uganda’s women entrepreneurs to compete globally while protecting the environment. With the right support, village-level innovations could drive national transformation and open new opportunities in regional and international markets.