KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s booming startup scene just received a powerful injection of support.
Standard Chartered, in partnership with Innovation Village and Village Capital, has launched the Women in Tech Uganda Accelerator Program—a bold, three-year initiative designed to empower 60 women-led, tech-enabled startups across the country.
Unveiled at MoTIV in Kampala, the program aims to address the stubborn gender gap in Uganda’s innovation and finance ecosystems.
While women own over half of Uganda’s micro, small, and medium enterprises, they often lack access to funding, digital tools, and growth networks. This new program changes that narrative.
“This is about unleashing potential,” said Roseline Najjuma, Head of Transaction Banking at Standard Chartered Uganda. “By equipping women entrepreneurs with what they need—skills, networks, and funding—we accelerate progress toward Uganda’s Sustainable Development Goals.”
The accelerator is part of Standard Chartered’s global Women in Tech initiative, now active in 12 countries.
To date, over $500,000 in seed funding has been disbursed across Africa, and Uganda is set to benefit directly. Through Future Lab, the program’s local implementation arm, Uganda will support 20 startups each year over three years.
Each six-month incubation cycle will offer intense training in market validation, digital integration, business strategy, and growth. Top-performing startups will secure catalytic grants of up to $10,000, alongside access to technology, customers, and investment opportunities.
Hon. Hellen Asamo, Minister of State for People with Disabilities, praised the initiative’s alignment with Uganda’s development blueprints like Vision 2040 and the National Development Plans (NDP III and IV).
“This program embodies the government’s goals: formalizing businesses, boosting access to finance, and fostering digital inclusion,” she said.
Asamo also cited complementary national programs like Emyooga and the Parish Development Model as supporting structures that, combined with private sector efforts like this one, can create a resilient ecosystem for inclusive economic growth.
Japheth Kawanguzi, Team Lead at Innovation Village, emphasized the program’s broader impact.
“This is more than skilling. It’s about shifting power—giving women the tools and platforms to lead Uganda’s tech revolution,” he said. “With our national reach and deep community ties, we’ll recruit diverse talent and deliver context-specific support.”
The collaboration brings together some of the strongest players in the innovation and finance sectors:
- Standard Chartered Bank brings financial muscle and a global network.
- Village Capital contributes world-class accelerator design and entrepreneurship expertise.
- Innovation Village ensures localized delivery and community engagement.
Margaret Kigozi, Head of Corporate Affairs at Standard Chartered Uganda, acknowledged the persistent hurdles women face—from funding gaps to mentorship shortages and digital illiteracy.
“Our mission is to fill those gaps and turn Uganda’s high rate of women-led startups into high-impact success stories,” she said.
The inaugural cohort kicks off in June 2025, with applications now open to Ugandan women founders building tech-enabled solutions across any sector.
In a country rich in entrepreneurial talent and digital promise, the Women in Tech Accelerator is more than a program—it’s a movement to reshape Uganda’s economic future through the leadership of women.
