JB urges Ugandan entrepreneurs to be focused

Malawi President Joyce Banda on Saturday urged Ugandan women entrepreneurs to remain focused if their businesses are to grow.

Banda said this during a dinner in Kampala where Ugandan Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (Uweal) celebrated 25 years of existence.

 “As women, we need to be focused if our businesses are to prosper. Nothing comes on a silver platter. Do not fear, forget the past, only remain focused,” said Banda.

During the meeting, women entrepreneurs who made great strides in their businesses received awards.

Commenting on the awards, Banda said the accolades came at the right time when the just-ended Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) also talked about empowering women in small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

“I am so grateful and happy to be part of this auspicious occasion as it reflects what we have been discussing at the Comesa meeting.

“This issue of empowering women in SMEs was also raised at the summit by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. He stressed on women empowerment, I know you are on the right direction,” she said.

Banda encouraged the women to be self-reliant as they were the backbone of that country’s economy.

She said women should not have the “I can’t do” syndrome; saying if she had that mentality she could not have made it to State House.

“If I had no vision, I could not be the President. I could not even manage to clear the mess in our economy in my first three months in office. I was focused. So, I also urge you to be focused,” she said.—Mana