Today’s fast paced and male oriented world presents unique challenges to the working class woman regardless of whether she is employed, aspires to start her own business or runs her own company.
Despite this, many women today have beaten the odds to emerge as successful in the corporate world as well as in business, while combining their careers with their responsibilities as mothers and wives.
MTN Uganda on Saturday 23rd March, 2013, held a special Women’s Day Panel Discussion themed “How does she do it?” as a celebration of Ugandan women in business.
“MTN Uganda acknowledges the importance of Ugandan women in both the social and economic development of the country. This year, as the rest of the world celebrates the annual International Women’s Day, we felt it befitting to invite business women from different spheres to engage in a panel discussion and in so doing to act as motivation to the upcoming women entrepreneurs in Uganda,” said Mazen Mroué, CEO MTN Uganda.
Since its inception in 1998, MTN Uganda has created a platform through its wide product range, as well as its services and coverage, which has given women the opportunity to rise and shine in business as well as in the corporate world.
Through its leadership position, MTN Uganda employs and supports in excess of 500,000 people both directly and indirectly and a large number of these are women that partner with MTN through itsDistribution Network, Mobile Money Service and MTN Business partnership.
“This year, as the rest of the world celebrates the annual International Women’s Day, we felt it befitting to invite business women from different spheres of the business community to engage in a panel discussion and in so doing to act as motivation to the upcoming women entrepreneurs in Uganda, Mroué explained.
Leading women in business shared their ideas with the rest of the women. These included Allen Kagina, commissioner general Uganda Revenue Authority, Aggie Konde, Managing Director NTV Uganda, Mama Mbire, one of the pioneer business women in Uganda, Caroline Mpyisi, owner of Montessori schools and Jolly Andruvule, director Invisible children.
The guest speaker, Emma Oenga who is based in Nairobi, Kenya and is a leading investor in the male dominated real estate industry in East Africa.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Guest, Honourable Amelia Kyambadde, the Minister of Trade and Industry commented, “The Ugandan government is committed to providing a favourable investment climate for prospective investors, both foreign and local. I do acknowledge that, over the years, Ugandan women have and continue to play a significant role in driving the economic development of the country through the different sectors they operate in.”
She applauded MTN Uganda for being commendable partner in the drive for economic development of Uganda. She recognized the work done over the years and in particular the contributions made towards the training of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The state of Uganda’s economy is such that SMEs have increasingly become one of the economy’s leading drivers of this country’s revenue with over 60% of revenue being generated by medium sized companies.
