The Government has launched the Buikwe Women’s Industrial Hub under the African Women in Processing (AWIP) initiative, a step in Uganda’s drive to empower women through industrialisation.
The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa on behalf of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni.
Janet described the project as a defining moment for women’s economic empowerment and the beginning of a women-led industrial transformation in Uganda. She said the park represents a strategic intervention to help women overcome long-standing barriers to participation in industrialisation.
“The park aligns with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan and the Parish Development Model, making it a key step in moving the country from a peasant economy to an industrial one,” she said.
The First Lady emphasised that women play a vital role in national development, and that empowering them has a direct impact on the welfare of families and communities. She noted that initiatives that expand women’s participation in industrialisation have the potential to accelerate Uganda’s overall transformation.
Through the hub, women will access affordable financing for enterprises, benefit from product certification support to meet international standards, and utilise modern infrastructure and tools to enhance production. The initiative also seeks to dismantle systemic challenges and create opportunities for women to lead in the industrial sector.
She thanked development partners whose support made the project possible, describing their contribution as vital to Uganda’s journey toward inclusive growth.
The Buikwe Women’s Industrial Hub is one of several projects under the AWIP initiative, designed to expand economic opportunities for women across the country.