The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) in collaboration with Department of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University, will hold the inaugural African Women in Agribusiness Excellence Awards in Kampala.
This is in line with the ongoing three days conference held to celebrate Women in Agribusiness Week (WAW) Conference 2025 under the theme: “Women Designing the Future of Climate-Smart Agriculture,”
“We are deeply honoured to host distinguished guests from across Uganda, Africa, Europe, and the diaspora. Your presence enriches this important platform for advancing inclusive, gender-responsive, and climate-smart agricultural development.Special thanks go to Guzakuza–Ghana, where the WAW initiative originated, for its inspiring vision and leadership in promoting women’s empowerment in agribusiness across the continent,” Florence Nassanga Musoke Chairperson Inter-Faith Women of Uganda said.
“We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to Makerere University for graciously offering free space for this year’s conference and exhibitions—your continued support for gender equality and agricultural innovation is deeply appreciated,”she added.
Officiating at the Women In Agribusiness conference at Makerere University Nassanga encouraged more interfaith women under the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda to actively invest in value addition and export-oriented agribusiness enterprises.
“By moving beyond production to processing, packaging, and export, women can capture higher value along the agricultural value chain and contribute significantly to Uganda’s foreign exchange earnings,”
“Faith-based women’s cooperatives and networks should take advantage of existing government and development partner programmes supporting agro-industrialization, export promotion, and regional market integration.
Through collaboration, innovation, and strategic partnerships, interfaith women can transform local agricultural products into competitive brands on regional and international markets. Empowering women in agribusiness is both a matter of faith and a cornerstone of sustainable development,”Nassanga explained.
Tryphosa Sengendo The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda Coordinator said the conference demonstrates a remarkable commitment to advancing inclusive and gender-responsive agricultural development through the Women in Agribusiness Week (WAW) Conference 2025.
“This timely initiative reflects Uganda’s collective determination to empower women as equal partners in agribusiness and as drivers of climate-smart innovation, economic resilience, and sustainable food systems.
The interfaith community recognizes that the empowerment of women is both a moral imperative and a strategic pathway to social and economic transformation,”she stated.
Sengendo said the conference offers an invaluable platform to strengthen women’s visibility, voice, and leadership in agribusiness.
She called for empowerment of young women, promoting access to finance, expanding market opportunities, and advancing the use of digital technology in agricultural value chains.
“Equitable access to low-interest loans, capacity building, and digital literacy will be critical to unlocking the full potential of women agripreneurs across Uganda, Africa, and the diaspora,”she stressed.
She further emphasized that Faith-based institutions continue to play a pivotal role in mobilizing communities, advocating for ethical leadership, and supporting policies that enhance women’s participation in sustainable agriculture.
“These efforts are closely aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan IV and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).let us reaffirm our shared commitment to nurturing a future where women have equitable access to land, finance, technology, and leadership platforms,”Segendo noted.
Oluwani Heaveni from Nigeria urged women to embrace agribusiness to better their sustainability across Africa
“Let us continue to collaborate across faiths, institutions, and sectors to build resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible agricultural systems that secure livelihoods and promote social justice,”she stressed.
“By investing in women, we invest in the future of our nation, our continent, and our shared planet,”she added.