Small-scale business operators in Luweero District have received training on how to use smartphones to market their products through digital platforms, in a bid to expand their businesses and improve access to affordable capital.
The training, conducted under the “Business Ku Ssimu Yo” initiative, is designed to equip micro-entrepreneurs with digital skills to promote their goods and services online and reach wider customer bases.
Speaking during the training, Rachael Kentenyingi said the programme mainly targets women engaged in small income-generating activities.
“We are focusing more on women because many of them are engaged in small businesses such as frying chips, selling tomatoes, onions and pineapples, baking cakes among others,” she explained.
Kentenyingi added that the initiative seeks to help participants use mobile phones not only for communication but also as tools for business growth and financial inclusion.
“We want to enable them to use their phones effectively to market what they do and possibly attract financial support from the government and other organizations to grow their businesses,” she said.
Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises Uganda coordinator Joseph Bulesa emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to maximise smartphone use for productivity rather than entertainment.
“We want to ensure that people who own smartphones use them beyond social media entertainment like TikTok, and instead turn them into tools for business growth,” he said.
The “Business Ku Ssimu Yo” initiative has so far been implemented in over 40 districts, including Luweero, Nakasongola, Nakaseke, and Mbale.
Some beneficiaries, including home-based baker Shalom Nantongo, say the training has already improved customer reach and business performance.
The initiative is expected to enhance financial inclusion and strengthen small enterprises, particularly among women, by leveraging digital technology.