Mbarara women grow Emyooga capital to Shs327m
Women entrepreneurs in Mbarara City South have expanded businesses in wine production, briquette manufacturing, tailoring and crafts after receiving government assistance through Emyooga. The local cooperative started with seed money in 2019 and grew its capital to 327 million shillings while serving more than 5,000 women across 202 groups. Kauda Annet Wasswa leads a 30-member association that received an initial 1 million shillings and now qualifies for 5 million shilling loans to produce grape wine.
Janet Kabatungi used cooperative funds to build a house and start raising chickens. Mellon Kyomuhangi belongs to an 18-member tailoring group that purchased sewing machines with their first loan and expanded to 12 machines after additional financing. Chairperson Immaculate Tumuhimbise Mayanja said the cooperative offers flexible repayment terms of three, six or 12 months based on member capacity.
Product standardization remains a barrier to reaching larger markets beyond hotels and private events. Wine sells for 200,000 shillings per container and between 10,000 and 15,000 shillings per bottle. Members want government help obtaining certification to compete nationally and internationally.
