Women entrepreneurs from Northern Uganda were trained in business skills under dfcu bank’s Rising Woman Initiative
dfcu bank’s Women in Business (WiB) Program has impacted over 70,000 women entrepreneurs since its launch in 2007.
dfcu bank became Uganda’s first bank to offer a women-focused banking proposition.
In this interview, Doreen Atuheire, the Head of Women in Business (WiB) Program at dfcu Bank, talks more about how the WiB is changing Uganda’s business landscape for women entrepreneurs.
Q: What is dfcu Bank’s Women in Business (WiB) program, and why was it launched?
Doreen: dfcu Women in Business was launched in 2007 to support Uganda’s women entrepreneurs, who face systemic barriers such as limited credit access, poor financial literacy, and underrepresentation in enterprise networks.
Our goal was to create an ecosystem where women-led businesses not only survive but grow, through access to affordable financing, mentorship, training, and networking opportunities.
Q: How central is WiB to dfcu Bank’s strategy on women’s empowerment?
Doreen: dfcu’s Women in Business offering enables us to offer gender-responsive financial services and holistic business support. From micro to medium-sized enterprises, we work closely with women entrepreneurs, meeting them where they are, and helping them scale.
Q: What’s the scale of impact so far?
Doreen: Over 70,000 women entrepreneurs have been supported across sectors like agriculture, retail, education, healthcare, and manufacturing. Many have accessed credit, attended business trainings, and joined national market linkage programs.
Q: What is the dfcu Rising Woman Initiative, and how does it complement WiB?
Doreen: dfcu Rising Woman, launched in 2018, is the public-facing arm of WiB—delivered in partnership with Daily Monitor and Uganda Investment Authority. It provides a national stage for training, storytelling, and investment readiness.
It mobilizes stakeholders from government, media, and the private sector to uplift women entrepreneurs beyond just financing.
Q: What impact has dfcu Rising Woman made so far?
Doreen: To date, the initiative has:
- Trained 35,000+ women through regional workshops.
- Received over 6,000 business proposals.
- Awarded more than UGX 120 million in cash prizes.
- Taken winners on exposure visits across East Africa.
Many participants have gone on to formalize their businesses, access capital, create jobs, and even mentor others.
Q: What’s new in this year’s dfcu Rising Woman edition?
Doreen: We’re expanding both reach and inclusivity:
- Bootcamps in 8 regions, including underserved areas
- A new Young Rising Woman category (for women under 35)
- A fully digital submission and voting platform
- Greater focus on sustainability, digital transformation, and investment readiness
We’re also building stronger alumni engagement to ensure ongoing support post-competition.
Q: How can women participate in this year’s programs?
Doreen: It’s free and open to all women entrepreneurs. You can:
- Visit any dfcu Bank branch and speak to our WiB focal points
- Follow us on social media and monitor Daily Monitor for announcements
- Register for regional bootcamps
- Submit your proposal online at:
👉 www.dfcugroup.com/rising-woman-initiative
We also encourage groups like SACCOs and business associations to mobilize members for participation.
Q: What advice do you have for a woman unsure about joining dfcu Rising Woman?
Doreen: You don’t need a perfect plan – just a willingness to learn and show up. Even if you don’t win, you walk away with knowledge, networks, and confidence. With dfcu’s Women in Business program, you’re not alone—you have a committed partner on your entrepreneurial journey.
Q: How does dfcu ensure its support stays relevant to female entrepreneurs?
Doreen: We take a data-led, grassroots approach; drawing insights from field feedback, proposal evaluations, and mentorship sessions. We also collaborate with development partners to address emerging challenges like digital exclusion, climate resilience, and youth innovation.
We regularly update products, offering flexible loan terms, digital learning, and guarantee-backed financing to reduce collateral burdens.
Final Thoughts: Building a Future Where Women in Business Lead
dfcu Bank’s Women in Business (WiB) program is a long-term commitment to changing the face of entrepreneurship in Uganda.
Whether through affordable credit, capacity building, or strategic mentorship, the program continues to adapt to the evolving needs of Uganda’s women entrepreneurs.
Initiatives like dfcu Rising Woman support and amplify this work, but the foundation remains dfcu Women in Business: a platform designed to walk with women from idea to impact.
“The goal is not short-term support. It’s long-term growth,” says Doreen. “With WiB, we’re creating a future where women-led businesses are a driving force in Uganda’s economic development.”
As the business landscape continues to shift, dfcu Bank’s Women in Business Program remains a powerful engine; ensuring that no woman with a vision is left behind.
