The creative and business sector is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Uganda, with women forming a significant part of the country’s creative industry.
The upcoming Uganda International Fashion and Business Expo is expected to bring together hundreds of young creatives, entrepreneurs, buyers, industry professionals and international guests to showcase talent, promote business opportunities and strengthen Uganda’s creative economy.
Speaking about the importance of the sector, Dr Ruth Aisha Kasolo, the GROW Project Coordinator, said the creative industry is a key driver of economic growth and provides opportunities for many girls and women, including school dropouts.
Dr Kasolo said the GROW Project supports women in the sector by equipping them with additional skills and helping them improve their products to meet international market standards.
“We are here to support women, especially through financing and business development, so that their businesses can grow and access better markets,” she said.
Serena Cavicchi, the Task Team Lead for the GROW Project at the World Bank, said women’s growth and empowerment are important to the development of the creative sector.
She noted that the fashion industry has the potential to showcase Uganda to the rest of the world, adding that the focus is on improving productivity and promoting African creativity globally through marketing and access to international markets.
Daniel Kazibwe, popularly known as Ragga Dee, the Director of Creatives and Culture, said many creatives have quality products but lack financial support and reliable markets.
“People have products, but they lack the financial support and market opportunities needed to grow their businesses,” he said.
At the centre of the Uganda International Fashion and Business Expo is a programme designed to create sustainable and bankable businesses.
The initiative also aims to contribute to tackling youth unemployment and poverty by opening pathways into employment and entrepreneurship across the fashion value chain.
The expo is expected to provide a platform for young people, particularly women, to connect with buyers, investors, industry professionals and international guests, creating opportunities for Uganda’s creative industry to expand beyond local borders.
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