• Latest
MTN, dfcu AWE Program Kicks off with Pledge to Advance Women’s Entrepreneurship

MTN, dfcu AWE Program Kicks off with Pledge to Advance Women’s Entrepreneurship

1 year ago
UBOS Transfers Over 5,000 Tablets to Kingdoms and Universities

UBOS Transfers Over 5,000 Tablets to Kingdoms and Universities

6 hours ago
Equity Bank to Establish UAE Office, Boost Diaspora Services

Equity Bank to Establish UAE Office, Boost Diaspora Services

6 hours ago
Stanbic Bank Remittance Ad
Equity Shareholders Approve Kshs16bn Dividend, Appoint New Board of Directors

Equity Shareholders Approve Kshs16bn Dividend, Appoint New Board of Directors

6 hours ago
Benny Hinn’s Healing Crusade Draws Over 500,000 as Miracles Stir Nation

Benny Hinn’s Healing Crusade Draws Over 500,000 as Miracles Stir Nation

15 hours ago
Gov’t Clarifies Drop in Coffee Prices, Urges Farmers to Remain Calm

Gov’t Clarifies Drop in Coffee Prices, Urges Farmers to Remain Calm

15 hours ago
Museveni Pays Tribute to Maama Janet on Her 77th Birthday

Museveni Pays Tribute to Maama Janet on Her 77th Birthday

15 hours ago
SoftPower News
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
SoftPower News
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

MTN, dfcu AWE Program Kicks off with Pledge to Advance Women’s Entrepreneurship

by Rogers Atukunda
March 20, 2024
MTN, dfcu AWE Program Kicks off with Pledge to Advance Women’s Entrepreneurship
108
VIEWS

MTN Uganda in partnership with dfcu bank on Tuesday kicked off the Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Accelerator Program at MTN offices in Kampala.

Launched in October 2023, this initiative aims to advance women’s entrepreneurship.

Related Stories

Equity Bank to Establish UAE Office, Boost Diaspora Services

Equity Shareholders Approve Kshs16bn Dividend, Appoint New Board of Directors

Benny Hinn’s Healing Crusade Draws Over 500,000 as Miracles Stir Nation

Sylvia Mlinge, CEO of MTN Uganda, emphasised that the AWE program was purposefully designed to create opportunities, stimulate growth, and promote inclusivity in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Sylvia Mlinge, CEO of MTN Uganda

“We are grateful for the support and belief from our partners in the Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Accelerator Program: MTN, Agribusiness Development Centre, UN Women, PSFU, The Innovation Village, NSSF, and Outbox Hub.”

She said the AWE program was designed with a clear purpose to create opportunities, foster growth and promote inclusivity in the entrepreneurial landscape.

In her speech, the Chief Guest Dr. Gudula Naiga Basaza advised the AWE participants to boost confidence and strategic positioning in the competitive business landscape.

Dr. Gudula Naiga Basaza

She stressed the importance of sharing content to attract followers, influencers, and endorsers.

She further spoke about self-awareness and how to build confidence earlier today at the unveiling of the 118 Women Entrepreneurs who are part of the first cohort of AWE.

dfcu Bank was represented by Kate K. Kiiza (ED/CFO), Doreen Byaruhanga (Chief Corporate & Institutional Banking Officer), Helena Mayanja (Head PR & Corporate Affairs), Mark Ssonko (Head SME & Commercial Banking), and Ruth Asasira (Head WiB).

Kate K. Kiiza (ED/CFO)

Kiiza, in her speech, expressed gratitude to MTN and other program partners and welcomed the 118 successful applicants of the AWE Accelerator Program.

She reiterated dfcu Bank’s commitment to supporting the initiative. “Our partnership with MTN is strategic, and at dfcu Bank, we are committed to supporting the program. The AWE program forms part of our broader Women in Business (WiB) program, a cause dear to both of us.”

According to Kiiza, dfcu Bank is backing the AWE program with tailored financing: subsidised interest rates and relaxed collateral for participants.

“To build capacity, we will provide training in financial management, ESG, and gender diversity. Our tailored financial solutions are designed to help women thrive in the competitive business world. The capacity-building training is crucial for this. We’ve set up a WiB Advisory Council and a Centre accessible to all women.”

She assured the partners and participants that the UGX 15bn target for the AWE Accelerator Programme will be exceeded.

Paulina Chiwangu, UN Women’s Country Representative in Uganda, said where women entrepreneurs have the opportunities and support to thrive.

“This embodies our commitment to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. Thank you, MTN, for your leadership in this initiative. True progress happens through collaboration. To the women entrepreneurs: your dreams matter, and your ideas are powerful. We are here to support you.”

Paulina Chiwangu, UN Women’s Country Representative in Uganda

She said building a more inclusive society takes action. “We are committed to creating an environment where women-owned businesses flourish. That means addressing key areas like 1. Inclusive governance & women’s participation. 2. Ending violence against women and girls. 3. Women’s economic empowerment.”

She added: “We are here to launch a programme that will help us to inclusiveness and equity. Gender-responsive procurement is a vehicle for women’s economic empowerment”.

Dorothy Kabagambe, CEO of ATC Uganda, thanked Mulinge for inspiring women.

“Today’s about celebrating even more: investing in women entrepreneurs. This initiative will change the game. I strongly believe that something shifts when women are given the opportunity to thrive. Investing in women = positive change,” she noted.

Dorothy Kabagambe

Dr. Ruth Aisha Kasolo, the Grow Project Coordinator at the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), lauded the collective effort and dedication that has gone into making the AWE program a success.

She assured women entrepreneurs of PSFU’s support in their ventures.

The AWE Accelerator Program targets women entrepreneurs in IT, network services, digital solutions, facility management, and commercial products/services.  

Tags: AWEBasazaDFCUMTNMulingeSoftPowerSoftPower NewsTop Uganda NewsUganda

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Recent Stories

UBOS Transfers Over 5,000 Tablets to Kingdoms and Universities

Equity Bank to Establish UAE Office, Boost Diaspora Services

Equity Shareholders Approve Kshs16bn Dividend, Appoint New Board of Directors

Benny Hinn’s Healing Crusade Draws Over 500,000 as Miracles Stir Nation

Gov’t Clarifies Drop in Coffee Prices, Urges Farmers to Remain Calm

Museveni Pays Tribute to Maama Janet on Her 77th Birthday

Visit UBOS Website
SoftPower News Logo

SoftPower News is a subsidiary of SoftPower Communications LLC, a Ugandan digital media group. Keep posted of the latest from Uganda and East Africa.
Plot 4B Malcolm X, Kololo
P.O Box 1497, Kampala - Uganda
Tel: +256-392-001-701
Email: info@softpower.ug

This news site is licenced by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)

ADVERTISEMENT
Stanbic Bank Ad
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More

© SoftPower News

error: Content is protected
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women

© SoftPower News