Doreen Atuheire Kabachelor, Head of Women in Business, dfcu Bank
dfcu Rising Woman, a flagship empowerment platform under the dfcu Women in Business (WiB) program, has since 2018 trained over 35,000 women, directly engaged more than 60,000, and reached over one million virtually. In this interview, Doreen Atuheire Kabachelor, Head of Women in Business, dfcu Bank, reveals how the initiative is building Uganda’s next generation of women entrepreneurs.
Q: What is dfcu Rising Woman and why is it important?
Doreen:
dfcu Rising Woman is our flagship empowerment platform under the dfcu Women in Business (WiB) program, launched in partnership with Monitor Publications Limited (Nation Media Group Uganda). It equips women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, visibility, and financing they need to build sustainable businesses.
Since 2018, Rising Woman has trained over 35,000 women, directly engaged more than 60,000, and reached over one million virtually. Beyond numbers, it has created a nationwide community where women learn, collaborate, and grow with tailored banking and advisory support.
Uganda has one of the highest female entrepreneurship rates globally; at about 38%, yet most women-led businesses struggle to scale. dfcu Rising Woman bridges that gap by transforming ambition into bankable growth.
Q: What does this year’s theme, “Unlocking Potential for Women Entrepreneurs to Drive Business Growth,” mean for dfcu Bank?
Doreen:
For us, unlocking potential means turning vision into value. We do this through four levers:
- Knowledge & Skills: Regional business clinics, leadership and legal coaching, and proposal-writing mentorship.
- Capital: Access to dfcu’s WiB financial solutions and millions of shillings in annual prize funding.
- Networks & Markets: The dfcu Rising Woman Expo and mentorship study tours that connect women to new suppliers and customers.
- Confidence & Visibility: Storytelling and peer learning that amplify role models and inspire replication.
Q: What should we expect from this year’s grand finale?
Doreen:
Season 7 will close with the dfcu Rising Woman Awards Gala, celebrating standout entrepreneurs from the Business Proposal Competition. We will also have the dfcu Rising Woman Expo – a 2-day experience where women entrepreneurs will exhibit and market their products and services.
Q: How has dfcu’s commitment shaped the impact of dfcu Rising Woman?
Doreen:
dfcu has been a champion of women in enterprise for nearly two decades through the Women in Business program – the first women-focused banking proposition in Uganda. With dfcu Rising Woman, we’ve gone beyond financing to provide a full ecosystem: training, visibility, mentorship, and continuous business advisory.
To date, we have invested over UGX 120 million in prize funding and created platforms that help women formalize, scale, and access new markets. Many alumni now lead thriving businesses in manufacturing, agribusiness, services, and e-commerce.
Q: What are the biggest challenges women entrepreneurs face, and how does dfcu Rising Woman help?
Doreen:
Access to capital, skills, and networks remains the top hurdle. dfcu Rising Woman addresses all three:
- Capital: Prize funding and tailored dfcu Women in Business credit solutions.
- Skills: Regional trainings, proposal clinics, and expert coaching.
- Networks: The Expo and mentorship tours connect women to mentors and markets—locally and regionally.
Q: What’s next for dfcu Rising Woman?
Doreen:
We’re expanding regional presence and deepening sector focus to reach and empower even more women entrepreneurs. Post-gala, we will host export readiness and quality standards clinics and link more businesswomen to dfcu Women in Business financing to sustain growth.
Our mission remains the same: to power women entrepreneurs to lead, innovate, and build Uganda’s future economy.
