RUKUNGIRI, November 13, 2026 – The Government recently embarked on a nationwide mobilisation campaign ahead of the rollout of the GROW Business Plan Competition Grants, targeting women entrepreneurs who were unable to access loans under the existing Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises [GROW] project.
The over Shs 800 billion GROW project, implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development with support from the World Bank, seeks to widen access to business financing through non-repayable grants for eligible women-owned enterprises.
The nationwide orientation campaign involves ministerial delegations meeting local government leaders and women entrepreneurs to explain the grant guidelines and prepare districts for the application process.
Recent consultations brought together Resident District Commissioners [RDCs], Resident City Commissioners [RCCs], LC V chairpersons, mayors, chief administrative officers [CAOs], Town Clerks, Commercial Officers and leaders of Women Entrepreneurs Platforms.
Gender Minister Lt Gen [RTD.] Henry Tumukunde led consultations for the Ankole and Kigezi subregions at Riverside Hotel in Rukungiri Municipality, while State Minister for Labour Simon Mulongo conducted orientations in Bugisu, Bukedi, Busoga and Sebei subregions.
Dr Mercy Faith Lakisa engaged leaders in Teso and Karamoja, while State Minister for Elderly Affairs Jackline Mbabazi led the Greater Masaka orientation at Solo Heights Hotel in Masaka City.
Grants target women locked out of commercial loans
Government officials said the grants were introduced to address financing gaps identified during the implementation of the GROW project commercial loan scheme, which left some viable women-owned businesses unable to secure credit because of stringent banking requirements and other financial constraints.
“Despite the widespread rollout of the GROW Loan across the country, a significant number of viable women entrepreneurs were unable to access or secure the loan due to financial constraints, stringent banking requirements or credit limitations,” Tumukunde said.
He added that the grant component was specifically designed for women who had not benefited from the GROW loan scheme.
“This grant targets women entrepreneurs who did not receive the GROW loan. We must spread project benefits widely so that every eligible woman entrepreneur gets a fair chance to scale up through a direct, non-repayable capital opportunity,” he said.
Under the programme, beneficiaries will receive grants ranging from Shs 3.5 million to Shs 107.07mlnn to expand their businesses.
The initiative targets at least 2,626 women-owned enterprises across the country, including a dedicated allocation of at least 767 enterprises in refugee-hosting districts.
The grants will be distributed under two categories based on the size and capacity of the enterprises.
Micro-enterprises employing up to four workers, with annual sales or assets of up to Shs10 million, will qualify for between Shs 3.5mln and Shs 35.69mln.
The funding will support business formalisation, acquisition of production equipment and working capital.
Small enterprises employing between five and 49 workers, with assets valued between Shs 10mln and Shs 100mln, will qualify for grants ranging from Shs 39.25mln to Shs 107.07mln.
Higher funding allocations will prioritise businesses operating in male-dominated and non-traditional sectors.
Priority areas include Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics [STEM] innovations, construction, metal fabrication, robotics, green enterprises, commercial agricultural processing, health technology, early childcare facilities for children aged zero to three, and climate-resilience ventures.
Special provisions for vulnerable groups
The eligibility guidelines also provide for women in refugee-hosting districts, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, allowing them to benefit from grants for community-based enterprises.
Eligible activities under these special provisions include poultry and goat rearing, tailoring, catering, food processing and mobile money kiosks.
However, outside the designated provisions for vulnerable groups, activities such as market vending, basic hairdressing salons, event planning and subsistence farming will not qualify for funding.
Successful applicants will be required to implement their business plans within nine to 12 months, with all project activities and closeout operations completed by June 2027.
Application process free of charge
The Ministry has cautioned women entrepreneurs against individuals demanding money in exchange for application forms, assistance or promises of securing grants.
Officials said the entire application process would be conducted digitally and applicants would not be required to pay any fees.
“Application for the GROW Business Plan Competition Grants is 100 percent free. No woman entrepreneur should pay any fee to any official, consultant or broker to access application forms or win a grant,” Tumukunde said.
He said applications would be submitted through the official GROW project website or the project’s mobile application available on the Google Play Store, within 30 days of the official launch.
Applicants will be subjected to Credit Reference Bureau [CRB] checks, financial sanctions reviews and human rights compliance assessments.
The Ministry will also organise business clinics across the sub-regions to help eligible women prepare business proposals, budgets and the necessary compliance documents.
Local leaders tasked with mobilisation
The Ministry has tasked local government leaders with ensuring transparency, preventing duplication of beneficiaries and protecting applicants from fraud.
RDCs, LC V chairpersons, CAOs, commercial officers and women leaders have been urged to ensure that women who previously benefited from GROW project loans do not apply for the grants, allowing those who missed out on the loan scheme to benefit.
“You are the primary custodians of community trust. Dispel rumours at the grassroots, enforce the non-duplication rule, maintain absolute transparency and protect our women entrepreneurs from extortionists and fraudsters,” Tumukunde said.
He said the initiative was intended to help women-owned enterprises move beyond subsistence operations and become sustainable commercial businesses.
Local government officials have also been directed to use local radio programmes, community barazas, sub-county council meetings and other grassroots networks to sensitise and mobilise eligible women ahead of the 30-day application window.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
