Ninety-nine women entrepreneurs from Kampala, Lira, and Fort Portal celebrated their graduation from the 7th cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program on February 9. Supported by the U.S. Embassy in collaboration with SHONA Group, this achievement highlights a shared dedication to advancing women’s empowerment across various sectors including education, agribusiness, healthcare, and tourism.
The AWE Program, facilitated by the U.S. Embassy in partnership with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan, aims to provide women entrepreneurs with the necessary tools, knowledge, and networks to launch and expand their businesses. Participants have been equipped with insights from U.S. business development models and are now eligible for grant funding opportunities from the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) as well as business loans ranging from Shs3.5 million to Shs35 million through SHONA Capital.
Graduates of the program also join a prestigious network of U.S. government exchange program alumni, broadening their access to global opportunities and networks. Ellen Masi, the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Counsellor, expressed admiration for the Uganda women entrepreneurs and encouraged them to leverage their training and connections to create further opportunities.
Joachim Ewechu, co-founder and CEO of SHONA Group, highlighted the program’s success in contributing to Uganda’s economic development and improving livelihoods in communities. With over 10 years of experience supporting entrepreneurs across East Africa, SHONA remains committed to empowering women entrepreneurs, with anticipation of future collaborations with the U.S. Embassy in Uganda.
