Biz Chats with Women Business Owners

Alice is a member of the Busia Women Cross Border Traders Cooperative Society Ltd., #Uganda and Fruits Cluster Leader.  Alice trades primarily in fruits (water melon, passion fruits and oranges) that she sources from all over Eastern Uganda and sells to traders from Kenya.    

Margaret is a member of the Busia Women Cross Border Traders Cooperative Society Ltd., #Uganda and Cereals Cluster Leader.  She also chairs the Busia District Farmers Association. Margaret has been a farmer / trader for several years.  She grows cassava for consumption in the home and maize for sale in neighboring Kenya.

Mariam chairs the Busia Women Cross Border Traders Cooperative Society Ltd., #Uganda.  She is a member of the Eggs Cluster.  She is a self-confessed reformed smuggler who changed her ways after her peers elected her to serve as their Chairperson.

Edna Mudibo is a member of the Busia Cross Border Women Traders Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd., Kenya. She is the cooperative’s Secretary and has been a cross border trader for almost 20 years, trading in cereal and making peanut butter.

Grace Maloba is a member of the Busia Cross Border Women Traders Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd., Kenya (BCBWT SACCO). She is the Grocery Cluster Leader and has been a cross border trader for twelve years.

Florence chairs the Busia Cross Border Women Traders Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd., Kenya (BCBWT SACCO). She trades in cereals, fruits, soap and environmentally friendly bags and imports goods from as far as South Africa.  

Driven by her passion to equip people to fulfill their dreams, Sylvia is a serial entrepreneur who is just about to complete her doctorate in business administration.  She is CEO of SBM Investments and The Change Agency Initiative. 

Zambia’s fish processing pioneer Kasazi was inspired to start a fish processing company while listening to a presentation by a fish processor at a trade event in Uganda. 

Lydiah calls herself a “premature entrepreneur.” Norwich Insurance Brokers emerged from the ashes of the collapsed Meridian Holding Group where she was CEO of Meridian Insurance Brokers. 

Fashion Designer Faith considered designing, making and selling clothes nothing but a weekend hobby, until it dawned on her that she was getting enough orders to start a business, and so she did. 

When an attempt to become a horticultural farmer did not yield the desired results, Mary applied the lessons she learned from the experience to a new Apiculture venture.   

Suzanne is a well-respected fish farmer who learned everything she knows about fish farming on-the-job and by speaking to people engaged in the sub-sector. Her story demonstrates what one can achieve with sheer determination and drive.

At just 21, the day after her UK student visa application was denied Shirlene decided to start a business that manufactures beauty and cleaning products . Four years later, Crystal River Products makes six bio-based products that meet the Kenya Bureau of Standards quality requirements.

When she returned from maternity leave, Annette’s lecturing position had been filled by someone else.  Rather than seek employment, Annette started YourChoice to fill a market gap she had previously identified: a reliable supply of high quality millet flour. 

At 23 years old, while working as a Standards Inspector with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Gloria Arinaitwe was inspired to start a bottled millet beverage company - AEN Uganda Ltd. Podcast and show notes: www.bizchatshub.com

 Always an “intrapreneur” in the leading companies where she held key marketing positions, Hilda Karamagi finally branched out on her own by launching Blue Edge Marketing.  The firm offers strategic marketing support to organizations that do not have an in-house marketing department. Download podcast and show notes: www.bizchatshub.com

Kati Farms emerged from Lovin’s pursuit of fish marketing options while she worked for a Ugandan fish farmers' cooperative. When her fish sausage idea proved a winner, it was time to leave employment. www.bizchatshub.com for podcast and show notes.

Regina Nakayenga started Rena Beverage Solutions as her retirement plan. Rena produces highly nutritious beverages and powders from organically grown hibiscus flowers and seeds, palm seeds, okra and rosemary.Podcast & show notes: www.bizchatshub.com

Fransisca is the Managing Director of Nature Responsible Safaris, a tour company specializing in responsible tourism and travel to eco-friendly lodges and camps.  The company also links its customers directly to local community projects. Podcast and show notes: www.bizchatshub.com

Bilhah, the owner and Managing Director of BIL Honey Enterprises works with over 100 women beekeepers in Baringo County, Kenya to produce unadulterated honey and honey by-products. www.bizchatshub.com for podcast and show notes

Christine Auma, Managing Director of Jubilee House of Hospitality seeks to introduce a formal and professional approach to the hospitality sector, as an alternative to the informal approach taken by many in Uganda. Podcast and show notes at www.bizchatshub.com

Eva established E-Logistics in 2008 to both trade in coffee and create inclusive linkages across the coffee global value chain.  She is committed to seeing women participate at all levels of the coffee value chain.  Listen to the podcast and download show notes at www.bizchatshub.com

Managing Director Patricia Oisso Maina juggles owning and running Fine Drop Distributor, a wholesale beverage supplier and Engutoto Complex Pub alongside her full time job and family responsibilities.  Listen to the podcast at: www.bizchatshub.com and download show notes. 

CEO Caroline Tormoi co-founded Eldo Tea Enterprises, Kenya in 2011.  The social enterprise grows, processes and packages specialty purple, white and green teas. Eldo Tea partners with 30 small holder tea farmers in Nandi County, guarantees them fair prices. Listen to the podcast and download show notes at www.bizchatshub.com

Suzanna Mushabe Haarbosch is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Caio Shea Butter Uganda Ltd., a social enterprise producing premium, unrefined Nilotica shea butter, shea butter cosmetics and skincare products. Suzanna and her business partner Semine Lykke Brorson founded Caio in 2015. Their intent was to increase the incomes earned by the women in Northern Uganda who harvest shea nuts and produce shea nut butter using traditional methods. Listen and download show notes at www.bizchatshub.com

www.bizchatshub.com - Gaudencia Magessa founded Posh Events Planners, Arusha, Tanzania in 2012.  Constantly frustrated by the limited supply of creative ideas, suitable décor and event decorations for the high end events she planned at work, Gaudencia followed her entrepreneurial instinct to fill a market gap. 

www.bizchatshub.com - Akinyi E. Odongo, a passionate promoter of sustainable fashion, is the Founder and Managing Director of Akinyi Odongo KENYA™, a Nairobi-based fashion house that defines African fashion with a global view. Akinyi is committed to reviving disappearing traditional fabric treatment techniques, works with over 2,000 traditional weavers in Kenya, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso and is Founder of Fashion Agenda Africa.   

There are thousands of incredible women business owners in Eastern Africa and elsewhere; each with a unique story. Santa Joyce left public service in 1991 and began her business in Northern Uganda in 1996. Santa’s driving force was the desire to be her own boss. After several attempts, she settled on businesses based on two of her passions; love for art and craft, and love for sesame (also called simsim). Her art and craft product lines are recycled paper beads, basketry, and clay pots.  She has successfully helped thousands of other women in Northern Uganda (many who previously resided in Internally Displaced People Camps) build businesses out of these traditional activities.