Two enterprising women

Jennifer Mwijukye (L) and Maria Odido Difonzo

What you need to know:

Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (UWEAL) will be hosting the first ever Women Business Leaders Conference (WBLC) on November 27 and 28, at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. The two-day conference is themed around inspiring and promoting a spirit of excellence among business women. Among the keynote speakers for the event will be Jennifer Mwijukye and Maria Odido Difonzo. Esther Oluka had a one-on-one with them.

Jennifer Mwijukye, 48, is the founder and managing director, Unifreight Cargo Handling Limited. She is also a mother of three.

How does someone start a business?
Some people venture into business because they are naturally gifted at something; others do it to solve a problem, and others because they have accumulated experience.

What is that one principle that you have applied in your business that has kept it afloat?
I never jeopardise the reputation of my business for anything including bribes. I never cheat or take advantage of my customers simply because they are ignorant. That way I remain in my clients’ good books.

Which sectors in business do you feel women need to tap into more?
Women are involved in all kinds of businesses in this country, but may be the point here is that they need to be recognised more often for their work.

What do you feel women need to do more of to perform better in business?
They need to build and nurture their networks. They need to manage their employees more effectively and more professionally. For instance, do not continuously promise your staff a salary increment which you cannot be able to give them. Persistence is also very good in the business. Whenever things do not go as planned, do not give up. Failures and challenges are always part of business. Pick up the lessons, dust yourself clean and move on.

Would you encourage women to open up businesses with their partners?
What normally brings conflict and fear among women is how the profits will be shared. I manage my business together with my husband and we made it easy by separating the business units. It all depends on how good your relationship is, but business can improve a relationship because one knows that they are working hard for the good of the family.

What is your tip for women who are just starting out in business?
It is very important to have passion for the kind of business you want to venture into; this makes it difficult to fail at it. Also, do a self-assessment on what you can and cannot do.

Who is Mwijukye?

Unifreight Cargo Handling Limited provides customs clearing services, cargo transportation, and freight and trade logistics consultancy.

Throughout her 20-year-long career in trade and logistics, Mwijukye has been credited for her instrumental role in introducing a new training curriculum with emphasis on business. Noteworthy among her achievements are; the appointment to serve on the Presidential Investors’ Roundtable (2007 to 2009), the Board of Uganda Road Fund as a director, and the Board of Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Ltd (UWEAL) as the Chairperson. She is the recipient of an award from Habitat, a UN agency, in recognition of her leadership role in promoting women entrepreneurs in the East Africa Community.

She was recognised as the woman entrepreneur of the year by UWEAL in 2009 and by the Association of Uganda Freight Forwarders for her eight-year contribution as founder and treasurer.

Bee natural boss did not go all the way to university

Maria Odido Difonzo is a highly celebrated and award-winning entrepreneur, the founder of Bee Natural Products Uganda Limited.

What does it take for women to win in the business battlefield?
During World War I and II, the men were out fighting while the factories were being run by women. They kept the economy running while the men were in the background. Sometimes, I think it is a wrong perception that men are the ones have business skills. Women are in the same field as the men. I’m just like the men in the business world. I even have to juggle more roles than they have to and that makes me more successful than them.

How have you managed to juggle your family responsibilities with your business?
By simply rising up to the occasion and doing them. I have my own space and I dictate what happens in that space. My family knows that I cannot be there for them all the time I have to provide food and other things. They understand that they need to share me with my business.

Why do you think some businesses get stagnant along the way and eventually collapse?
It happens and is part of every business. It is, however, important to understand why yours collapsed so you can do better next time. Failure is part of business.

What should we expect from you at the upcoming conference?
I will be addressing women on what they need to do to succeed in any kind of business.

Your tip for opening up a business?
Know what you want in that business but have passion for it. Failure is normal, so focus on getting back up.

Who is Difonzo?

The mother of four is a high school dropout who did not continue to the university level because her grades were not good enough. Her first job after school was working as a tea girl in a land survey company in Nairobi, Kenya. She was fired after three days because she wanted to change certain things. Odibo who also has a hand in real estate business is mostly known for her honey business, which has won her several awards and earned her globally recognisation.

The UWEAL event
Women Business Leaders Conference (WBLC) will provide a platform for different women to network, and provide company branding and awareness opportunities. Other speakers expected at the event include Amina Hersi Moghe, the Founder and Director of Oasis Shopping mall; Julian Omalla Adyeri, Founder and Director of Delight Uganda Limited; Dr Amani Asfour, the President of Egyptian Business Women Association (EBWA), and many others.