Business Acceleration Clinic: Turning Market Exposure into Market Access for Green Women-Led MSEs in Uganda

Unblocking market barriers for green women-led MSMEs is a key handholding initiative under the Women Economic Empowerment for Green Transformation under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (WEEG-UWEP), implemented by GIZ Uganda under the Employment Promotion for Women for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) programme, in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. It is funded by the European Union and the governments of Germany and Norway, with technical implementation support from GOPA Worldwide Consultants on behalf of GIZ.

The WEEG-UWEP project supported 26 green women-led Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) from across 6 districts in the Eastern Region to participate in the 2026 National Agricultural Trade Show in Jinja, demonstrating the transformative impact of combining market exposure with practical business development support. An integrated Business Acceleration Clinic enhanced their market readiness while connecting them with key business support institutions. 

Participating enterprises spanned multiple value chains, including sustainable agriculture and agro-processing (coffee and cocoa) fisheries, wine production, arts and crafts, textiles, renewable energy, and energy-saving technologies. Women entrepreneurs travelled from Karamoja, Sebei, Teso, Busgishu, Busoga and other parts of Uganda, demonstrating the resilience, innovation and determination to access new markets and grow their enterprises. 

Entrepreneurs received practical coaching in business formalisation, packaging and branding, pitching, marketing, pricing, customer care and record keeping, with support from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Bank of Uganda on registration, taxation and financial inclusion.

The exhibition generated UGX 11.7 million collectively in sales and 715 new business contacts, creating opportunities for future orders, partnerships, and long-term market growth.  Many enterprises initiated or progressed their business registration during the exhibition,

A key lesson: market access alone is not enough — entrepreneurs also need the knowledge, skills and networks to compete effectively.