Women Entrepreneurs Graduate from Capital Solutions and Siemens Stiftung Programmes, Driving Change in Uganda
On January 29th, 2026, the future of women entrepreneurship in Uganda took center stage in Kajjansi. Over 140 young women from across Uganda celebrated a major milestone as they graduated from the 2025 Women Income Generating Opportunity Initiative (WIGOI) and Ugandan Change Makers programmes, implemented by Capital Solutions Limited in partnership with Siemens Stiftung.
Held at the Social Entrepreneurship Hub in Kajjansi, the colourful graduation ceremony was presided over by Dr. Peter Turyakira, Dr. Diana Ntamu, and Dr. Joyce Tamale. Mr. Kityo Richard represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development at the event.
The WIGOI programme, a two-year initiative running from January 2024 to December 2025, was designed to nurture young and underprivileged women—including women with disabilities and refugees. It equipped them with vocational and entrepreneurial skills for sustainable livelihoods.
Participants in the WIGOI programme received intensive training in business management, marketing, capital raising, leadership, and the application of modern ICT tools in business operations. Many were also connected to apprenticeship opportunities, vocational networks, and ongoing mentorship and coaching support to help them grow their enterprises and increase revenue generation.
In parallel, Capital Solutions was implementing the Ugandan Change Makers initiative, targeting vulnerable young women aged 18–30 in Metropolitan Kampala and Eastern Uganda. The project stayed true to its tagline, “Empowering Young Women Entrepreneurs (EYWE)” by focusing on capacity building, mentorship, and support to enable participants to establish and scale social enterprises that address pressing community challenges.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Joyce Tamale highlighted the transformative nature of the programmes:
“The programme provides critical career development opportunities, structured mentorship, and practical real-world exposure,” she said. “Today we celebrate these remarkable women for the skills they have mastered, the positive transformation they are already driving in their communities, and the sustainable job creation and high-impact ventures they have launched — especially in agriculture, climate change solutions, and health.”
Every handshake, every smile, and every certificate told a story of resilience. Dr. Peter Turyakira, in his address, called on the graduates to remain accountable for the knowledge and skills they had acquired.
He urged the graduates to take full ownership of what they had learned, and to actively network with their alumni. He added that collective growth, mutual support, and shared development would carry them much further as entrepreneurs and change makers.
One of the graduates, Juliet Akello, CEO of SPOWCOR Enterprises (a Ugandan Change Makers participant), shared how the programme changed her trajectory:
“After six months of enriching training and mentorship from Capital Solutions, my marketing skills increased tremendously. I am now confidently using different social media platforms — especially TikTok — which I previously had no idea how to use. I encourage all entrepreneurs who feel stuck to join Capital Solutions programmes. They are very helpful.”
During the event, several participants were recognised for exceptional performance and awarded cash prizes in categories including innovation, scalability, sustainability, business growth, and investment potential. Top graduates were inducted into the SEF Social Entrepreneurship Association of Uganda, one of Capital Solutions’ groundbreaking products. The association is a stepping stone for entrepreneurs to access peer support, networking, and collaboration opportunities.
The graduation of the 2025 cohort underscores the power of targeted, inclusive entrepreneurship development in advancing economic resilience, gender equity, job creation, and sustainable innovation across Uganda.
As the legendary Maya Angelou once said, “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” And on this remarkable day at the Capital Solutions Social Entrepreneurship Hub in Kajjansi, more than 150 women stood tall: not only for themselves, but for the future of Uganda.
