Empowering Women Through Enterprise: Beadwork in Karamoja under UWEP

In the remote yet culturally rich Rupa Sub County of Uganda’s Karamoja Region, women are rewriting their stories of resilience through entrepreneurship, thanks to the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP).

Among them is a local entrepreneur whose skilled hands and creative spirit have turned traditional beadwork into a growing business. With support from UWEP, she now produces beautifully handcrafted jewelry—necklaces, earrings, and decorative items—that reflect both the heritage and ingenuity of the Karimojong people.

UWEP, a flagship government initiative under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, provides financial support and business skills training to women across Uganda. In Karamoja, the program is not only fostering economic independence but also preserving indigenous art forms.

During a community demonstration, the entrepreneur showcased her beadwork to a captivated audience, explaining how the UWEP loan she received enabled her to buy quality materials and expand her customer base. Her work has since inspired other women in Rupa to join group ventures and begin their own income-generating projects.

This success story reflects the broader impact of UWEP—empowering women at the grassroots level, strengthening families, and contributing to local development across Uganda’s diverse regions.