In its continuous commitment to bolster private sector engagement nationwide, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) has declared that the third season of the Women’s Day Katale will take place at the Dam Waters Rugby Ground in Jinja, from March 15th to 17th, 2024.
The theme for this season is “Bridging Economic Divides for Women’s Prosperity.”
PSFU Vice Chairperson, Ms Sarah Kagingo, has challenged financial institutions to design and roll out well-tailored products that meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as this will accelerate economic growth throughout the country.
Speaking at the launch of the 2024 PSFU Women’s Day Katale, Kagingo noted that as well as Uganda boosts of several financial institutions, most of them lack products that support SMEs.
“We continue to urge financial institutions to develop more products that support SMEs. We are telling financial institutions to give people patient capital that will grow their businesses. On our part, we are working with partners to create the Catalytic Fund; a platform that will offer non-collateralized loans with its patient capital to youth, women, and high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).”
Aligned with International Women’s Day celebrations, the Katale is an annual event that acknowledges the significant contributions and potential of women and girls as entrepreneurs. It serves as a platform for young individuals to network, connect with potential customers, and expand their customer base.
Simultaneously, women entrepreneurs seize the opportunity to learn, enhance their skills, and build capacity across various business aspects. During the Katale, women and girl entrepreneurs exhibit their products and services at no cost, engage in networking activities, acquire marketing skills, and have the chance to sell their products directly to the audience during the exhibition.
“The Women’s Day Katale is a powerful platform for women entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow. It has been growing tremendously since its inception in 2022, and last year, over 600 young entrepreneurs participated in Kampala, showcasing the event’s growing reach and impact. The event will feature business clinics led by industry experts, a One-Stop-Centre facilitated by key government agencies and banks, and a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services, expanding their market reach and forging valuable connections,” Kagingo noted.
According to Mr Stephen Asiimwe the PSFU Chief Executive Officer, Jinja has been chosen as the ideal host for this year’s event due to its strategic location, abundant untapped opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, and substantial pool of unemployed youth who, with opportunities, can significantly contribute to Uganda’s economic growth.
“This year’s Katale, held in the economically vibrant city of Jinja, reflects our strategic decision to bring this platform to Eastern Uganda. This region, though brimming with potential, faces considerable economic challenges. By hosting the Katale here, we aim to empower local women entrepreneurs, contribute to regional development, and bridge the economic divide,” Asiimwe said.
He added: “As part of this year’s Katale, we are delighted to announce the participation of Inebantu, the Queen of the Busoga Kingdom, as a special guest. Her influence and leadership will serve as an inspiration to young women in the Eastern Region and beyond. Through effective mobilization strategies, including community-based partnerships, digital marketing, media outreach, and the involvement of social media influencers, we aim to ensure maximum participation and impact.”
The third annual event builds on the success of the previous ‘Katales’ held in 2022 and 2023.
The Women’s Day Katale debuted in the Luwero district in 2022, drawing over 100 women-founded and women-led businesses.
The second edition, hosted in Kampala in 2023, witnessed the participation of more than 250 women enterprises who showcased products, acquired business management skills, and delved into corporate governance.
This annual initiative is supported by the Young Africa Works (YAW) Lead Firm Structure program, funded by the Mastercard Foundation.
