How women can be resilient in 2026, despite the odds

________________

On a quiet evening in Kampala, the maths of survival plays out on several kitchen tables and dining tables. A salary comes in. School fees are due. Rent is overdue. A relative back home needs help. A child needs lunch money tomorrow. By the time the numbers are done, little—if anything—remains.

In such trying situations, women entrepreneurs are called upon to remain resilient in this new year—no matter what, they need to rise above their challenges.

An independent financial advisor within the capital markets, Samuel Sanya, paints the picture of women’s financial burden, saying: “In Uganda today, living a “decent life” has become an exercise in endurance. According to the 2024 National Census by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), the average working Ugandan supports at least one non-working person.”

He adds that for many households, the burden is far heavier. “Parents support children, siblings support siblings, and urban workers quietly shoulder the needs of entire extended families.

‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ the saying goes. In modern Uganda, it takes a village to sustain an adult.”

And that reality cuts across income levels. However, it weighs most heavily on those earning modest wages in urban centres, where the cost of living is driven by essentials: food, rent, transport, education, and healthcare.

Driving the point home, Sanya says, “UBOS [Uganda Bureau of Statistics] data shows that seven million Ugandans live below the poverty line.”

Fortunate Orishaba of Uganda Small Scale Industries Association chimes in, saying women-led businesses remain a critical driver of household incomes and community development.

She is hopeful that in 2026, women entrepreneurs across Uganda are no longer just surviving. “They are adapting, innovating, and shaping local economies, even as structural barriers such as limited access to finance, markets, and technology persist,” says Orishaba.

Referring to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, Orishaba says Uganda continues to stand out globally for women’s participation in entrepreneurship.

“About 38.4 percent of women-owned enterprises operate as micro enterprises, employing fewer than five people and earning less than sh 10m annually,” she says.

She also notes the glaring discrepancy between male and female-owned businesses, saying: “On average, women-led businesses earn 30 percent less in profits than male-owned firms, reflecting persistent gaps in capital access, market reach, and sector diversification.”

What next?

For women to remain resilient in 2026, Orishaba suggests digital adoption as a way forward.

“Resilience in 2026 must be anchored in digital adoption. Studies on women-owned SMEs in Kampala show that entrepreneurs who use digital tools such as mobile marketing, online payments, and e-commerce are better able to withstand shocks and expand their customer base.”

In practice, however, Orishaba says national surveys indicate that only 35 percent of businesses regularly use technology, with women lagging slightly behind men.

Orishaba also points to the power of networks as a vehicle for business growth, which women entrepreneurs have embraced through mentorship circles and cooperatives.

“As Uganda pursues inclusive economic growth, supporting women entrepreneurs to move beyond survival toward innovation, digitalisation, and collaboration will be essential. Resilient women-led businesses do not merely endure; they grow, create jobs, and shape the future of Uganda’s Economy,” she says.