Kalaa Mugosi Women Empowerment Ltd Sandra Nakayenze (L) receives coffee processing machines from MTN Uganda MTN Foundation Senior Manager, Bryan Mbasa as other guests looks in Sironko District on March 1, 2024.
Kalaa Mugosi Women Empowerment Ltd, a community-based social enterprise located in Sironko District, Eastern Uganda, has historically encountered challenges in processing and drying wet coffee, slowing down transformation of people’s lives.
These challenges are now expected to be no more as the enterprise today receives a generous support of three pulping machines and dryers, valued at UGX 20 million, from the MTN Foundation, a corporate social responsibility arm of MTN Uganda.
This support is part of the MTN Changemakers Initiative, launched in July, aimed at empowering local individuals and organizations to enact meaningful change within their communities.
Deogracious Odwori, the head of operations at Tan Telecom Head, representing MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge, said the support aligns seamlessly with MTN Uganda’s Ambition 2025 strategy, aimed at propelling the nation’s progress through strategic partnerships and investments that foster community development, equity, and inclusiveness.
“Our support for Kalaa Mugosi Women Empowerment Ltd epitomizes our belief in the power of collaboration to achieve a modern, connected life for everyone,” he said.
“We therefore believe that our support will enable our local individuals and organizations to exceed their expectations and realize their dreams for the betterment of their communities.”
He highlighted the initiative as a testament to MTN Uganda’s mantra, “Together, We are Unstoppable,” underscoring the potential for collective efforts to drive significant change.
Sandra Nakayenze, CEO of Kalaa Mugosi Women Empowerment Ltd, expressed her gratitude towards MTN Uganda for the investment, noting its critical role in enhancing production processes and, consequently, the economic well-being of the community.
Kalaa Mugosi Women Empowerment Ltd, serving 1,246 small-scale farmers, including a significant 60% female demographic across the Mt. Elgon sub-region, has been at the forefront of advocating for economic empowerment to uplift local producer livelihoods and ensure sustainable development within their communities.
Florence Nambozo, the Woman Member of Parliament representing Sironko District thanked MTN Uganda for supporting the social enterprise with the hope to improve the community’s income via value addition.
She also appreciated the founders of Kalaa Mugosi Women Empowerment Ltd for uplifting women and the girl child.
This development comes at the time when the Ugandan government is intensifying its efforts on value addition aiming to elevate the commodity’s export earnings.
Uganda, a leading coffee producer, reported a remarkable $940.3 million in revenue from coffee exports in the 2022/2023 coffee year, marking a 7% increase from the previous year, driven by an uptick in export volumes and favorable global prices, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
The MTN Foundation has earmarked UGX 500 million for 25 selected projects across the nation, spanning economic empowerment, education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene.
This initiative is part of a broader commitment to invest in the nation’s future, targeting youth, women, persons with disabilities, and rural communities across five regions of Uganda.
Over the last decade, the MTN Foundation has dedicated UGX 30 billion towards more than 250 projects in education, health, youth empowerment, water, sanitation and hygiene, and humanitarian response significantly impacting communities nationwide and cementing its position as a catalyst for positive change and development in Uganda.
