While many small-scale agro-processors around the country struggled to find proper space to process and package their products, growth felt like a distant dream.
They had the drive and the market—but lacked the infrastructure to scale.
Today, that reality is beginning to change.
Through the GROW Project, the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development is turning commitment into action, rolling out Common User Production Facilities designed to meet women where they are—and take them where they want to go.
At the heart of this effort is a simple but powerful idea: women entrepreneurs need more than capital. They need spaces, tools, and systems that reflect the realities of their businesses.
The signing of new partnership agreements marks another step in that journey. It reflects the Ministry’s continued focus on practical, inclusive, and sustainable interventions that directly respond to the everyday challenges women face in business. It also signals a broader recognition that without gender-responsive infrastructure, the full potential of women entrepreneurs will remain untapped.
Across Uganda, the first cohort of Common User Production Facilities is taking shape—not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as a carefully designed network aligned to regional economies and the sectors where women are most active.
In Lamwo District, within the Palabek Refugee Settlement, women engaged in honey and grain processing are gaining access to a new agro-processing hub through Finn Church Aid. For women who previously worked with basic tools, the addition of proper working space, processing equipment, and training is expected to significantly improve both productivity and incomes.
Further east in Otuke District, the Okere Community Development Project is breathing new life into shea butter production. What has long been a traditional activity is now being transformed into a structured manufacturing enterprise, complete with a dedicated processing facility, modern equipment, and skills training to help women tap into cosmetic, nutritional, and medical markets.
In Gulu City and surrounding districts, creative industries are getting a boost. Through Wend Africa, women working in tailoring, leather crafts, and art are gaining access to shared workspaces, machinery, and apprenticeship opportunities—turning informal talent into competitive businesses.
Meanwhile, in Nakapiripirit, a maize processing and bulking facility is being strengthened through the Namalu Farmers Produce and Cooperative Society. For women farmers, this means less post-harvest loss and better market access.
In western Uganda, Kiruhura’s women entrepreneurs in ghee processing are seeing the revival of a cottage industry. With refurbished facilities, new equipment, and skills development, what was once small-scale production is evolving into a more structured and sustainable enterprise.
In Tororo, women in tailoring—supported by the Benedictine Nuns—are upgrading their workspaces and equipment, positioning themselves to meet growing demand in garment production.
Back in Kampala, The Innovation Village is expanding opportunities even further. Women entrepreneurs will access industrial-level infrastructure across sectors such as carpentry, welding, ICT, and garment production—alongside apprenticeship programs that prepare them for modern markets.
In eastern Uganda’s Teso and Busoga sub-regions, cassava farmers are moving up the value chain through the Airo Cassava Growers and Processors Association. With new production spaces and processing lines, women will be able to turn raw cassava into higher-value products.
And along the shores of Lake Victoria in Buikwe District, women fish processors at Kiyindi Landing Site are set to benefit from improved processing and cold storage facilities—reducing losses and improving product quality.
What ties all these efforts together is a deliberate approach. The facilities are not only spread across regions to ensure national reach, but are also tailored to local economic activities. This ensures that the support provided is relevant, practical, and immediately useful to the women it is meant to serve.
For the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, this is more than infrastructure investment—it is a strategy for transformation.
By creating shared spaces for production, equipping them with the right tools, and embedding skills development, the GROW Project is helping women transition from informal survival businesses to structured, scalable enterprises.
And as more women like Sarah gain access to these opportunities, the impact will extend far beyond individual businesses—strengthening households, communities, and Uganda’s broader economic future.