Capital Solutions Limited, in partnership with Siemens Stiftung, has concluded the 2025 Women Income Generating Opportunity Initiative (WIGOI) and Ugandan Change Makers programs, a landmark effort aimed at cultivating Africa’s next generation of female entrepreneurs.
The programs culminated at the Social Entrepreneurship Hub in Kajjansi, under the leadership of Dr. Peter Turyakira, Dr. Diana Ntamu and Dr. Joyce Tamale.
The event drew senior government representation, including Mr. Kityo Richard, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, who urged participants to translate their training into viable business ventures.
“Harness the skills you have gained to create employment, not just for yourselves, but for your communities,” Mr. Richard emphasized.
Over 50 young women from WIGOI 2025 participated in an intensive year-long program designed to equip them with practical skills, mentorship and entrepreneurial know-how. The initiative is part of a broader collaboration between Capital Solutions Limited (CSL), a Ugandan social enterprise founded in 2008 and Siemens Stiftung, focused on building the capacity of social entrepreneurs across Africa.
CSL provides access to capital, entrepreneurial training, and platforms to develop innovative economic and health solutions targeting low-income communities.
The 2025 cohort was recognized not only for completing the program but for demonstrating measurable business growth and innovation. Winners of WIGOI and the Ugandan Change Makers initiative were inducted into the SEF Social Entrepreneurship Association of Uganda, a move designed to foster networking, partnerships and sustained business impact.
Cash prizes were awarded to the standout performers, reinforcing the value of tangible results in social entrepreneurship.
“In recognition of their outstanding achievements, cash prizes have been awarded to the overall winners of the two projects, who have demonstrated exceptional business growth and innovation,” Capital Solutions said in the announcement.
Juliet Akello, CEO of SPOWCOR Enterprises and a participant in the Change Makers program, described her experience as transformative:
“After six months of enriching training and mentorship from Capital Solutions, my long-awaited day has finally arrived. I am also looking forward to pitching, exhibitions, and networking. This will be my first time exhibiting and I already feel a surge of excitement.”
Akello, one of 100 women selected from a competitive pool of applicants, has already begun applying the knowledge acquired to grow SPOWCOR Enterprises, highlighting the real-world impact of targeted entrepreneurial programs in Uganda.
The WIGOI and Ugandan Change Makers programs reflect the deliberate cultivation of women-led startups as engines of economic growth in East Africa. Uganda, with a rapidly expanding youth population and rising mobile technology penetration, presents fertile ground for social entrepreneurship.
According to the Uganda Investment Authority, women-led businesses account for nearly 30% of the SME sector, with growth potential amplified by targeted mentorship and access to capital.
Through WIGOI and associated initiatives, CSL is translating this vision into measurable results, positioning Ugandan women at the forefront of entrepreneurial innovation in Africa.
As African economies look beyond traditional investment channels, programs like WIGOI demonstrate the tangible benefits of strategic capacity-building and targeted mentorship. They are not just creating businesses, they are reshaping the economic landscape of Uganda and setting a benchmark for women-led entrepreneurship across the continent.
