MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge, together with programme partners, during the launch of MTN AWE programme in Gulu City on November 20, 2025.
For Immediate Release:
- MTN Uganda, together with its partners MTN Mobile Money Uganda, American Tower Corporation (ATC) Uganda, dfcu Bank, and The Innovation Village, yesterday opened applications for the second cohort of its Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) programme.
- The announcement comes on the heels of the programme’s first phase, which, over the past three years, has transformed the landscape for women-led businesses in Uganda.
- The inaugural phase supported more than 40 women-owned enterprises to secure contracts totaling UGX 18 billion, surpassing the UGX 15 billion target. This initiative also dramatically reshaped MTN Uganda’s supplier ecosystem, increasing the share of women-led businesses from a mere 0.3% to 15% in under two years.
- Building on this success, the second phase of AWE will run until 20 December 2025 and is open to women entrepreneurs across Northern, Eastern, Western, and Central Uganda.
Thursday, 20th November 2025 – Gulu, Uganda: MTN Uganda, together with its partners MTN Mobile Money Uganda, American Tower Corporation (ATC) Uganda, dfcu Bank, and The Innovation Village, yesterday opened applications for the second cohort of its Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) programme.
The announcement comes on the heels of the programme’s first phase, which, over the past three years, has transformed the landscape for women-led businesses in Uganda. The inaugural phase supported more than 40 women-owned enterprises to secure contracts totaling UGX 18 billion, surpassing the UGX 15 billion target. This initiative also dramatically reshaped MTN Uganda’s supplier ecosystem, increasing the share of women-led businesses from a mere 0.3% to 15% in under two years.
Launched in 2023 as a flagship initiative under MTN Uganda’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, AWE aims to foster inclusive economic growth by integrating women entrepreneurs into high-value opportunities across the telecom sector.
During its first cohort, 118 enterprises from across Uganda benefited from procurement contracts, mentorship, and practical training. Over UGX 1.6 billion in subsidised loans was unlocked through dfcu Bank, while participants completed more than 30 training modules focused on procurement readiness, financial management, ESG compliance, and technical capacity building.
MTN Uganda CEO, Sylvia Mulinge, speaking to the audience during the launch of AWE phase II in Gulu.
MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge emphasized the programme’s impact: “Over the past three years, AWE has proven that deliberate inclusion of women entrepreneurs generates measurable business and social benefits. By integrating women into strategic projects such as solar installations at our sites, we are advancing our sustainability goals while driving inclusive economic growth across Uganda.”
Building on this success, the second phase of AWE will run until 20 December 2025 and is open to women entrepreneurs across Northern, Eastern, Western, and Central Uganda. This phase will focus on enterprise development in sectors including information technology, network infrastructure, digital solutions, marketing, green energy and solar technology, facility management, commercial services, and professional consulting.
Eligible businesses must be at least 50% women-owned or majority women-shareholder, operational for a minimum of one year, with annual revenues of at least UGX 60 million. Companies must provide a valid tax compliance certificate and have active women-led management. Priority will be given to small and medium-sized enterprises, youth-led businesses (ages 23–35), and enterprises owned by women with disabilities.
MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge, together with programme partners, awards certificates to beneficiaries of the first cohort of the MTN AWE programme in Gulu City on November 20, 2025.
Dorothy Kabagambe Ssemanda, Chief Executive Officer at ATC Uganda, highlighted the programme’s technical dimension: “Empowering women entrepreneurs is critical to driving innovation and sustainability in the telecom infrastructure sector. Through AWE, we provide not just procurement opportunities but technical mentorship in areas like structural engineering, project management, and health and safety, ensuring women lead Uganda’s digital transformation.”
Annette Kiconco, Chief Retail Banking Officer at dfcu Bank, said: “Supporting women entrepreneurs is at the core of dfcu Bank’s Women in Business Programme. Through AWE, we extend affordable financing, financial literacy, and opportunities for women to thrive in high-value sectors such as technology, green energy, and infrastructure. When women succeed, communities and the economy grow stronger.”
Arthur Mukembo, CEO of FutureLab at The Innovation Village, added: “Programmes like AWE equip women with the skills, tools, networks, and resources to access capital and markets. Supporting women innovators strengthens entire ecosystems, creates jobs, and drives socio-economic transformation. Women’s participation in technology is not a short-term initiative—it is a strategic priority for national development.”
Selected participants will benefit from direct procurement opportunities within MTN Uganda and its partner network, one-on-one mentorship, peer networking, subsidised financing, free MTN Business Internet, and ESG compliance training. MTN Mobile Money Uganda will facilitate digital payments and financial inclusion, ATC Uganda will provide infrastructure project mentorship, dfcu Bank will deliver tailored financial products, and The Innovation Village will lead incubation and entrepreneurship training.
Women entrepreneurs who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply online at www.mtn.co.ug/awe before the closing date. Required documents include a certificate of incorporation, tax compliance certificate, proof of women ownership, financial statements, business registration details, and a company profile.
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About MTN Uganda
MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the National Telecommunications Operator (NTO) licence granted by the Uganda Telecommunications Commission (UCC). Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices, and MTN Mobile Money (conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Services are delivered through a network of over 219,000 MoMo agents, 100,980 MoMo merchants, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. For the period ended June 30, 2025, MTN Uganda had 22.8 million subscribers, 13.3 million MoMo users, and 10.8 million active data users. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug for assistance.
About MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited
MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited (MTN MoMo) is a 100% subsidiary of MTN Uganda Limited and the leading Mobile Financial Services provider in Uganda, providing services to over 13.6 million customers. MTN MoMo Uganda avails its customers with safe, secure and trusted virtual mobile money wallet services, person-to-person money transfer, utility payments, MoMo Pay, school fees payment, savings and loans and many other financial services using a mobile phone. Download the MTN MoMo app for free from google play or the App store and enjoy MTN MoMo’s best-in-class Mobile Financial Services.
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