Patience Atuhaire
24 November 2007
Kampala — Many women are wrestling with the weight of indecisiveness or the lack of direction in venturing into business. However all it takes to make your ideas tangible is guidance and courage to take the steps, writes PATIENCE ATUHAIRE
December 7 yet again marks the celebration of women entrepreneurs in the form of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (UWEAL) Achiever Awards.
Women's efforts in investments in varied aspects of business are to be rewarded. The funfair-laden event will be a show of more breakthrough for women in a patriarchal sphere.
Yet, it turns out that only a handful of women can wear a smile on their faces to this effect. The majority of women are wrestling with the weight of indecisiveness or even the lack of direction in venturing into business.
Some have hefty retirement packages or savings on their bank accounts, with no idea of how to invest it, whereas others have a few ideas but lack the guts to take the risk. For these women, developing business ideas, maturing them into actual businesses or managing a business on the whole is foreign thing.
How does one come up with an idea to boost their income in the short or long run? You don't have to be a business consultant to think up what field you want to venture in.
Grace Barya, the Executive Director of UWEAL, says that simple things such as taking a look at the goods and services you consume every day can give you a few hints. "Take a look at what is on the market; whether a good or service.
There could be something you, and may be a few other people need on a daily basis yet it is not readily available. Do you imagine increasing its availability for instance? While you could finally zero down on providing the item, its scarcity could also be in the means by which its provided, which might also be an undertaking on its own," she said. The fact that a few other people need this item already guarantees you market.
Assessing your passions could also be a good point to start. That is how Josephine Okot, the Managing Director of Victoria Seeds Limited, started what has come to be a world-renowned seed business. She has a strong affection for nature, so watching the disappearing greenery tugged at her heart, she says.
Thus, Okot started a project that would develop and improve seeds, which would not only restore Uganda's greenery but also boost agriculture. This was later to earn her the 2007 Yara Prize from the Yara Foundation (Norway), for her efforts towards the Green Revolution in Africa, which is in support of the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.
Business is a world where solitude is never welcome. If you are confused about how to invest that little capital stashed somewhere, or if you don't seem to sort one scheme out of a horde of ideas, discussing them could do you lots of good. From talking to a trusted friend to joining a women entrepreneurs' group, profit-potent tips can be got.
Speaking of groups, this idea has become so compelling to the extent that the term nigina is almost on everyone's lips. At whatever level, businesswomen's groups have helped women panel-beat their ideas as well as get formal business training.
Little wonder that the popularity of groups is spreading countrywide. With about six upcountry branches, UWEAL is a membership-based group, with no barriers to business size. Its target is Small to Medium Enterprises.
The 900-member group, surpassing societal class, has a number of Savings and Credit Co-operatives affiliated to it, through which women network and access business training and counselling in such areas as planning and bookkeeping.
"This helps them to expand their ideas, and find market for their projects," Barya says. So, nurturing your business idea shouldn't be so hard.
Traditionally, women are known as an enterprising lot that they have been referred to as the backbone of their households. Even in modern society, they seem to be rich with business ideas that, if nurtured they could rise above the tradition of business being a masculine preserve. But something seems to hold them back from wholly treading the path of risk-taking.
Indeed, it is risk that deters them from turning their ideas into profit makers. Maimuna Nakimera, a small-scale hardware dealer in downtown Kampala has operated her shop for six years. Her husband set it up for her, and she has dreamt of expanding it or starting a whole different line of merchandise. But she is risk-averse.
"I have saved a considerable amount of money, and I would want to rent a bigger place and have more stock. But I fear to risk all my savings.
What if something went wrong and I didn't make any profit?" she worries. It is such attitudes that the Dfcu Bank Women in Business project has had to tackle, according to Stella Engena, the project manager. "Some women would rather see their little capital gain some small interest in a bank account than take a gamble at starting a business. But we take them through the basics.
If one is paranoid about risk, we advise them to start small, and keep their books well. They get used to it gradually," she says.
Starting or expanding a business takes bravery and calculation. And that is the story of Nightingale Nabukenya's life. The winner of the 2006 Cotilda Busuulwa Pioneer Award (from UWEAL), Nabukenya's bravery led her to tread a path that no woman in Uganda had ever trodden - Tyre rethreading.
She moved from being the Managing Director's secretary in a tyre rethreading business to the General Manager in eight years. When she left to face the business world on her own - plunging all her savings, plus a loan, in buying machinery and materials, she was familiar with business management and way beyond fearing to risk.
Now the proprietor of K and D Tyre Rethreading Centre in Katwe, with clients from as far as Rwanda and South Sudan, Nabukenya has one piece of advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs, "Face risks head-on."
Societal stereotyping of women's lack of strength to build an income on their own should be far behind us by now. To women entrepreneurs, we have no more excuse not to break through and thrive in business.
The doors are open and though the ground is not completely levelled, women stand a much better chance at succeeding.
As long as we overcome the phobia for risks, they say, we should be able to take on the world business wise. After all, proper guidance is available to carry us all the way.
Some women exhibitors at the Unity Cultural Festival share their experiences in business
Jane Wahu Artist- Kenya
Why this business? You see, I have always loved art since was at school. Craft is the only thing one can do without being employed; you just have to be talented.
Challenges faced by businesswomen?
A lot, sometimes business is bad, traveling is insecure, mostly for the ladies, but there is nothing you can do, you still want the money. Also sometimes also you go to a place and you don't sell at all.
Betty Namatovu, Artist-Uganda
Why this business? I saw it was what could do best; the other thing is that my parents did not have enough money so had to put my talent to use.
Challenges faced by a business woman?
We have nowhere to sell our products. When people come in to help us, they turn out to be cheats. Sometime back, some people found me in St Balikudembe Market and told me that they are going to build me a stall. They took my money and gave me a very little, some even lie to us that they are going to take our products abroad.
Advice to a woman who wants to start a business?
We need to unite and become one. Women should also stop depending on men and go out and make their own money.
Olivia Chikumene, Designer- Zimbabwe
Why this business? I needed something not very expensive from which could make some money. I had been a housewife for a long time and needed a break and that is how began designing some clothes.
Challenges faced by businesswomen?
Sometimes we don't get customers. It becomes hard for us to order for new material and so our business sometimes comes to a stand still.
Advice to a woman who wants to begin business?
They should be able to save up some money for capital.
Rose Kitakufe, Craftswoman
Why this kind of business? You see, craft business is the kind of business in which you would still get enough money even if you didn't have a lot of capital. Sometimes you can do these things using your own hands and can work at home.
Challenges faced by businesswoman?
Marketing is our biggest problem. Yes, the market sometimes is available but the environment for business is not conducive for women.
What advice would you give to a woman who wants to begin business?
Zeal, it is the most important thing and also being focused. They should also not forget to tithe, it is the only way God can give us more.
Mercy Mbabazi, Nnutritionist
Why this business? It is good business, there is not a lot of competition and our products are unique. That is why people buy them a lot.
What do you think are the challenges of a woman in business?
It is very hard for us to get capital and market; sometimes we don't get market.
Advice to a woman who wants to begin business?
They need to be cooperative; it is the only way to have people around you and the only road to success.
Beatrice Shangali, Designer/crafts woman -Tanzania
Why this business?
I chose this business because like culture, come from the Royal family and thought this was the only way to showcase my culture.
Challenges faced by a businesswoman?
May be because we don't get business. The other thing is the competition. You see most of our clients are whites, yet our people don't usually buy our products, so in some seasons, they are not around and our business is suffocated. Sometimes it's not easy to get our products like ebony which we have to get from as far as South Tanzania.
Advice to a woman who wants to begin business?
They should not fear, they should start slowly and if they are persistent, they will soon make it.
Sherifa Hawa, Designer- Guinea
Why this business? I wanted to do something African reflecting the beauty of Africa. Another thing is that most people including whites, like African wear.
Challenges faced by a businesswoman?
We lack enough exhibition grounds, our government does not recognise art. They think it is not a serious business.
Advice to a woman who wants to begin business?
They should be strong and move on and not wait for their husbands to give them. They should learn to fight on their own.
Compiled by EDWIN NUWAGABA
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