dfcu Champions Financial Reform to Accelerate Women’s Enterprise Growth

As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the annual 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 at the Women in Business Symposium hosted by Gudiee Leisure Farm under the theme “Leading with Power: Knowledge. Voice. Action.”

The symposium convened policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders, and entrepreneurs to examine leadership development, mental resilience in business, protection of assets, 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, noted that Uganda consistently ranks among the highest globally in female entrepreneurial activity, with women owning nearly 40 percent of businesses in the country.

He said, ‘’Uganda’s strong participation of women in business must now translate into scale, productivity, and competitiveness, citing agriculture as the backbone of Uganda’s economy and a critical area of focus employing the majority of women, girls, and youth.

Kiwanuka also challenged men to take a more active role as allies in advancing gender equity, framing the discussion as particularly important for the men in attendance. He highlighted the need for greater reflection on the role men play in shaping environments where women can thrive at home, in communities, and in the workplace.

His remarks underscored the importance of introspection among men, including reflection on parenting approaches and the role men play in shaping attitudes and expectations for both sons and daughters, as well as the broader influence these attitudes have on perceptions of women in society, both locally and globally.

Dr. Gudula Basaza, the Director and Founder of Gudie Leisure Farm, said, ‘’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. Gudie Leisure Farm has consistently been at the forefront of empowering young people, especially women, through practical and transformative training programs. This time, we have been training women from the Teso region to become compliant and investment-ready, enabling them to access opportunities and resources from institutions that require formal standards and accountability.

Speaking during the Women in Business Symposium, Dr. Victoria Sekitoleko, former Minister of Agriculture and a renowned leadership mentor, pointed out that although policies affect women the most, women are often absent when those policies are being made. This, she said, is true at every level within families, at LC1 and LC3, at the district level, and even in Parliament.

She emphasized the importance of women supporting other women. She said that women in leadership positions often feel isolated and need strong networks of support. She urged women to reach out to female leaders in their communities, build relationships, and create sisterhood rather than competition or silence. According to her, strong networks enable women leaders to consult, test ideas, and represent their communities more effectively.

The women who attended the training have spent the last 35 days at Gudie Leisure Farm, where they acquired business management skills, leadership skills, ICT skills, and technical agricultural skills. They learned how to formulate and produce their own animal feeds, manage poultry, piggery, and fish farming enterprises, and add value to products such as chicken, fish, and pork. They have also been trained in producing herbs and spices as condiments to enhance their meat products.