US government hosts 1st AWE Alumnae Conference in Uganda

Recently, the US government has hosted the first-ever Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Alumnae Conference. The event has been organised in an alliance with SHONA Group, Kustawi Africa, iProfile Foundation, and Ramela Foundation in Uganda.

The conference was organised with theme ‘Celebrating Uganda’s Women Entrepreneurs’. It also brought nearly 300 AWE alumnae, mentors, investors, and key stakeholders together for the celebration of women entrepreneur’s transformative achievements in Uganda and this has been happening since 2019 when the program started.

The US ambassador to Uganda William W. Popp highlighted the significance of the programme as a long-term investment in economic development of Uganda via women entrepreneurs’ empowerment. He said, “Women are vital to economic growth, and when they succeed, families thrive, communities develop, and economies are strengthened.”

In addition, the AWE programme has provided entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and resources to nearly 750 Ugandan women since its launch, reaching out to diverse regions that also includes Kampala, Jinja, Mbale, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Kabarole, and Mbarara.

The programme has assisted women with building confidence, fostering networking, and enhancing resilience. It has also helped them in launching and scaling their businesses into numerous sectors like agriculture, technology, retail, and creative industries.