In Uganda’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape, where the promise of entrepreneurship often ends at the gates of gender inequality, dfcu Bank is quietly building a new gateway—one designed not just for access, but for ascent.
Through its Women in Business (WiB) program, the Bank is betting big on a simple but profound idea: unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs isn’t just good ethics—it’s sound economics.
Uganda continues to grapple with structural constraints that stifle small businesses – credit bottlenecks, limited market access, and a large informal economy.
Thus, the vision behind the dfcu Women in Business Program is both timely and catalytic.
But what exactly is the strategy behind this push? How does it navigate the gritty realities of informal trade, lack of collateral, and generational financial exclusion? And what’s next for the bank’s flagship initiative, dfcu Rising Woman, now in its seventh edition?
CEO East Africa Magazine sat down with Doreen Atuheire Kabachelor, the Head of dfcu Women in Business, to unpack the past, present, and future of the initiative that is quietly reshaping the enterprise landscape—one woman at a time.
Cheaper loans for real businesses
Atuheire opens with what lies beneath the surface: the Bank’s commitment to affordable credit solutions tailored for women-owned businesses that have operated for at least two years.
This offering targets women-led SMEs, including those structured as sole proprietorships or companies where women own at least 50% of the shares. It also focuses on businesses with women in senior leadership positions or on boards with over 30% female representation, as well as enterprises that are founded and actively led by women. Additionally, it includes businesses with a significant female workforce and those whose products or services work to break down barriers to gender equality and promote women’s economic empowerment.
Interest rates on these loans are competitive—17% per annum—with flexible repayment terms ranging from two to five years.
The bank also offers loan restructuring options that are informed by cash-flow patterns and can be used for working capital, asset financing, and capital expenditure.
Enterprises that meet the above criteria can access loans from a minimum of UGX10 million up to UGX1 billion.
The benefits extend beyond credit
Women can tap into dfcu’s suite of business financing products, including business growth loans, agricultural financing, trade finance, affordable insurance rates, unsecured contract financing, overdrafts, and asset financing.
The Bank also offers enterprise and personal banking accounts with no monthly management fees across all currencies, alongside investment club packages designed to grow their savings and investment portfolios.
Through the initiative, women entrepreneurs can also network with peers, access free advisory services covering legal, bid preparation, and investment support, and participate in capacity-building programmes such as the dfcu Rising Woman and dfcu Foundation Business Accelerator Program.
The bank has also created a dedicated Women in Business Center that provides personalized support, delivering what Atuheire calls a “super banking experience.”
Who qualifies?
Eligibility is broad: women trading as sole proprietors or operating formally or informally, agribusinesses, women’s groups, Saccos, and investment Clubs.
“The next 10 years for Women in Business are about transformation – at scale,” Atuheire explains. “We envision a Uganda where women entrepreneurs are not just participants in the economy but leaders of resilient, innovative businesses that create jobs and catalyse inclusive growth.”
That transformation isn’t aspirational—it’s operational.
dfcu has built an entire ecosystem around this ambition: tailored financing options, risk-sharing tools, networking, mentorship, and market access programs.
The Women in Business Advisory Centre acts as both a nerve-centre and a knowledge hub, giving women-led businesses a lifeline far beyond the loan application.
At the heart of this model lies a deep understanding of Uganda’s women entrepreneurs.
Most operate in informal or micro setups, often juggling domestic responsibilities alongside building their businesses with grit and grace.
Designed with women’s realities in mind
dfcu’s answer lies in a deep redesign of credit, advisory, and training models.
Through digital tools like Quick Banking and the SME Mobi Loan, the Bank bypasses traditional obstacles—collateral, paperwork, physical branch visits—offering women entrepreneurs instant access to up to UGX5 million.
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“Women also need mentorship, market access, and communities of practice,” Atuheire says. “That’s why we invest just as much in non-financial services: business clinics, online and in-person training, financial literacy workshops, and peer networks.”
It’s an approach recognizing something that is easy to overlook: access to capital without capacity is a revolving door.
Thus, by coupling capital with coaching, dfcu is helping women not only get in the game but stay in it.
Breaking barriers beyond loans
Systemic issues—lack of collateral, limited credit history, and exclusion from large procurement opportunities—continue to hold women entrepreneurs back.
But dfcu is working to dismantle these roadblocks through partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
“Our short-term unsecured loan solutions directly address the collateral gap,” Atuheire says. “And through collaborations with ecosystem players, we ensure women get access to everything from legal advice to export support.”
These are not cosmetic changes; they signal a shift from transactional banking to transformational support – a shift perhaps best embodied in the Rising Woman initiative.
dfcu Rising Woman: Where inspiration meets execution
Now in its seventh season, dfcu Rising Woman has evolved from a business proposal competition into a national movement.
With over 6,000 participants since inception, it is building not just businesses, but belief.
“What’s powerful is the mindset shift,” Atuheire says. “We’ve seen women who came in unsure of themselves walk out confident, capable of scaling, hiring, and exporting their products outside of Uganda. Some now run multi-branch businesses employing dozens.”
The initiative is structured to drive both visibility and viability. It combines regional boot camps, training sessions, expos, and mentorship with the adrenaline of competition. UGX30 million in prize money is up for grabs in 2025, alongside an all-expenses-paid mentorship trip for the top 10 winners.
What makes this year different?
“We’re going deeper and wider,” Atuheire says. “We’ve started with trainings in Ishaka and Ibanda, next heading to Lira, Mbale, and Kampala. Our two-day dfcu Rising Woman Expo in September 2025 will give women entrepreneurs a powerful platform to showcase, sell, and scale.”
Vision 2030: A Movement
The long-term goal of dfcu Rising Woman and the WiB platform is clear: institutionalize support for women entrepreneurs so it outlasts any one edition, officer, or budget line.
“We want to embed women’s entrepreneurship into Uganda’s economic DNA,” Atuheire says. “That means more bank products designed for women. More Investment Clubs. More women in export, manufacturing, and tech.”
Ultimately, dfcu aims for a more inclusive financial system, where gender is no longer a risk metric but a growth opportunity.
The economy she deserves
dfcu’s Women in Business initiative is rewriting what banking means in Africa.
It’s not just about moving money—it’s about moving mountains.
By designing for the whole entrepreneur—not just her balance sheet—the Bank is creating an ecosystem where women build lasting wealth, lead boldly, and redefine the economic future on their terms.
If the next chapter of Uganda’s growth story is to be truly inclusive, it’s something that could need more than policies and products, but platforms like dfcu Rising Woman, where capital meets courage, support meets scale.
In short, it would need banks that believe in not just banking women, but backing them.
