MTN empowers vulnerable young women in Iganga with UGX 18M equipment donation

MTN Uganda, through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, the MTN Foundation, is proud to support the Hands of Hope Uganda, a non-governmental organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable young women—survivors of gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, and early marriage—with livelihood skills such as tailoring, hairdressing, baking, and computer training in Iganga Municipality.

This support forms part of MTN Uganda’s Changemakers Initiative, which drives social change and economic empowerment across the country.

As part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, MTN Uganda has contributed equipment worth UGX 18 million to the Hands of Hope Uganda. The donation includes 10 sewing machines (four industrial-grade), an embroidery machine, three desktop computers, and three months of paid internet connectivity to support the beneficiaries’ training and development programs.

These resources will enable the participants to gain critical skills in areas such as sewing, embroidery, and producing essential products like reusable sanitary pads, clothing, and home accessories. With these tools, the beneficiaries will be equipped to create businesses, increase their income, and become employers in their communities.

Hands of Hope Uganda is expected to directly benefit 50 young women, with the ripple effect reaching at least 100 additional individuals within the Iganga Municipality. With the donated equipment, the young women will be able to tap into digital opportunities, enhance their skill sets, and improve their business prospects.

MTN Uganda’s Head of Commercial Eastern Region, Allan Njagala, emphasized the importance of this initiative, saying, “Empowerment begins with access—to knowledge, tools, and the digital world. By providing this equipment, we are ensuring that these young women have the resources they need to transform their futures and make meaningful contributions to the prosperity of their communities.”

Jane Namara, the Director of Hands of Hope Uganda, expressed her gratitude for MTN Uganda’s support, stating, “MTN’s contribution has been a game-changer for these young women. With the tools and training provided, we are laying the foundation for their success. This is not just about building skills—it is about creating lasting change and opportunities that will impact their lives and their communities for years to come.”

In addition,to Hands of Hope Uganda, MTN Uganda has already extended support to several other impactful organizations, including Bless A Child Foundation, which supports children with cancer, and 40 Over 40 Smiles Foundation in Kampala.

Other projects set to benefit from the Changemakers Initiative include Teens & Tots Neuro Centre in Kira, Kalangala Home for Children with Special Needs, Uganda Prisons Bushenyi DisabilityProject in Kalangala, Protected Springs in Lira, and the Soroti Clean Water Extension Project in Soroti, among others.

Last year, during the initial phase of MTN’s Changemakers Initiative, the company supported the implementation of 25 projects across the country, investing UGX 500 million into initiatives that made a tangible difference in communities.

Hands of Hope Ugandapartnership aligns with MTN Uganda’s broader commitment to education, empowerment, and creating inclusive opportunities through its Ambition 2025 strategy. The company remains focused on providing Ugandans with the tools and skills they need to embrace the potential of a connected, digital world and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

 

The MTN Uganda Foundation is a not-for-profit legal entity that was inaugurated in July 2007 as a vehicle through which MTN Uganda implements its corporate social investments (CSI). The Foundation strives to improve the quality of life in communities where MTN Uganda operates in a sustainable way. Its purpose is to bring about meaningful, measurable, and sustainable change that helps disadvantaged and rural communities to become self-sufficient. With a focus on innovative technology, we aim to uplift communities towards independence in this bold new digital world. The Foundation invests resources for social redress, thus economic empowerment, education, health, and humanitarian response. The Foundation implements projects that are highly enabled by ICT solutions.

MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the National Telecommunications Operator (NTO) licence granted by the Uganda Telecommunications Commission (UCC). Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices, and MTN Mobile Money (conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Services are delivered through a network of over 202,000 MoMo agents, 382,000 MoMo merchants, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. For the full year period ended June 30, 2024, MTN Uganda had 20.7 million subscribers, 12.5 million MoMo users, and 8.8 million active data users.

 

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN.” We are pursuing our Ambition 2021 strategy, focusing on growth in data, fintech, and digital businesses.