Brenda Katwesigye, a Ugandan tech innovator providing access to quality eye care

March 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Wazi Vision’s co-founder and ceo, Brenda Katwesigye, has a big vision for her business - to help everyone access quality eye care, without paying hefty sums for it. She and her team understand that good eyesight is critical to overall health and well being – especially for children and that is why the company has created affordable eyeglasses that are designed in Uganda and cost 80% less than what is currently on the market. Wazi Vision’s virtual reality (VR) testing kit also helps bring eye care testing to communities that do not have optometrists or access to affordable eye care services.

Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka receives prestigious St Andrews Prize for the Environment

March 6, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Awards and Accolades

This week, Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), headed by social entrepreneur and renowned gorilla conservationist, Dr Gladys Zikusoka, has been announced the winner of the prestigious St Andrews Prize for the Environment 2020. The prize was set up by the University of St Andrews and ConocoPhillips in 1998 to recognize significant contributions to environmental conservation.

Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, the ecopreneur saving Uganda’s gorillas with her high impact coffee brand

January 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee (Uganda)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

A new generation of environmentally conscious women entrepreneurs on the African continent, or ecopreneurs as they are better known, are making a real and tangible difference by building socially and environmentally conscious, impact driven businesses. Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee in Uganda, is one such woman.

100 LIONESSES: Julian Adyeri Omalla - 'Mama Cheers' is Uganda's favourite juice maker

December 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Julian Adyeri Omalla, founder of Delight Uganda Limited — **Julian Adyeri Omalla**, founder of Delight Uganda Limited

Julian Adyeri Omalla is one of Uganda's top female entrepreneurs. She is founder, chairperson and managing director of Delight Uganda Limited, producing the country's most popular fruit drink sold under the brand name 'Cheers'. Julian has diversified into a range of other business activities, including egg and poultry farming, maize-feed production, a flour mill and bakery, a student hostel for 400, as well as coordinating women’s farmer cooperatives that provide food aid into Sudan. Today, Julian employs over 1,000 Ugandans and exports to countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Zaire.

Maria Auma, a Ugandan entrepreneur helping startups to build sustainable businesses with impact

February 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Maria Auma, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda) — **Maria Auma**, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda)

For many startups, taking their businesses to the next level can be challenging. In Uganda, one woman entrepreneur is helping small business owners to increase their production capacity and access finance. Maria Auma, founder of Blue Luxury Investments, is bringing her expertise and investment community to help startups to fulfill their potential.

Bhavya Kalsi - The startup story of a Ugandan company and brand influenced by Indian roots

April 4, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Bhavya Kalsi and Nimisha Kalipurayath, founders of KONA (Uganda) — **Bhavya Kalsi and Nimisha Kalipurayath**, founders of KONA (Uganda)

KONA, the name of a unique new accessories and homeware company in Uganda was inspired by a mixture of cultures, the word literally meaning CORNER in Swahili Luganda and Hindi. So, from a little corner in Africa, two women entrepreneurs, are creating an exciting new brand with a distinctive personality.

PODCAST: LoA talks with co-founder Nahida Bhegani, about advertising and exciting new times ahead for Kinaya, their Ugandan advertising agency

November 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

When two sisters and a close friend all met at school in Uganda many years ago, who would have thought their close friendship would lead to a series of highly successful business ventures in the future, one of which is Kinaya, a leading advertising agency in the country. LoA chatted to Nahida about the business, affiliations, new challenges and exciting times ahead for the company.

Maria Auma - The startup story of an African woman-owned investment management company looking to empower the continent’s entrepreneurs

July 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

At a time when access to funding and capital-raising for business start-ups in Africa is difficult and stressful at the best of times, one Ugandan woman entrepreneur is looking to forge a path where few African women tread. Maria Auma is taking her passion for economics and financial management and building her company, Blue Luxury Investments, as a platform for investment management solutions for entrepreneurial ventures that are environmentally conscious.

Uganda ranked as the country with the highest level of entrepreneurship in the world according to latest research

June 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

It might come as a surprise to some that an African country, Uganda, ranks first in the world for having the most entrepreneurs per capita, according to recent research conducted by UK-based business-networking group, Approved Index. Three further African countries, Cameroon, Angola and Botswana also occupy places amongst the top nine countries with the most entrepreneurs, many of them women.

InstaHealth - The startup story of a health-tech company providing vital access to health information at the swipe of a smartphone screen

March 3, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Brenda Katwesigye, co-founder InstaHealth, Uganda — **Brenda Katwesigye,** co-founder InstaHealth, Uganda

Brenda Katwesigye is a tech entrepreneur with a passion for making a difference in Uganda’s health sector by harnessing her considerable telecommunications skills. Her company, InstaHealth, has developed a new mobile app which instantly connects users to health centres, medical specialists and ambulance services, using simple technology that ordinary people in Uganda can use. Together with her co-Founder, Elizabeth Kasujja, these are two African woman entrepreneurs finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges by using the power of technology.

DEF.I.NI.TION Africa - The startup story of three talented fashion entrepreneurs redefining the value of 'African'

February 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Nahida and Nadia Bhegani & Olga Mugyenyi, founders of DEF.I.NI.TION Africa, Uganda — Nahida and Nadia Bhegani & Olga Mugyenyi, founders of DEF.I.NI.TION Africa, Uganda

Meet Ugandan sisters, Nahida and Nadia Bhegani who together with their childhood friend, Olga Mugyenyi are the founders of fashion sensation, DEF.I.NI.TION Africa. Their youthful energy promises an alternative approach to fashion, where everyday Ugandan life inspires each of their new designs. Their aim: to have products that are 100% African made, that redefine the market place, and importantly redefine the perception of 'African' fashion.

Juliana Nasasira - The startup story of a talented young woman realising her lifelong dream to build a fashion brand

February 21, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Juliana Nasasira, founder of Kwesh — **Juliana Nasasira**, founder of Kwesh

Many of us day-dream of fulfilling our lifelong ambitions and entrepreneurial dreams one day, but talented Ugandan designer, Juliana Nasasira, went from a career in property management to becoming a global fashion brand builder in the making. She is a testimony to the power of passion, drive and a real can-do attitude.

BOLD Kampala - The startup story of three women entrepreneurs changing the face of fashion retail in Africa

February 18, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ngyenzi 'Nunu' Mugyenyi (Top), Janet Mugume (L) and Angel Kalisa (R) , founders of BOLD Kampala — Ngyenzi 'Nunu' Mugyenyi (Top), Janet Mugume (L) and Angel Kalisa (R) , founders of BOLD Kampala

Bold Kampala is the brainchild of three vibrant and talented women entrepreneurs from Uganda who have a vision for raising awareness of, and retailing, African fashion brands. Their BOLD Kampala retail concept is truly world-class and provides affordable space and excellent exposure to buyers to talented African designer fashion brands.

Julian Omalla - The startup story of a woman who against all odds became one of Uganda’s biggest business success stories

December 7, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Julian 'Mama Cheers' Omalla, founder of Delight Limited, Uganda — **Julian 'Mama Cheers' Omalla**, founder of Delight Limited, Uganda

This inspirational woman entrepreneur from Uganda shows the power of grit and determination to succeed in business, despite the many hurdles encountered, to build a highly respected, multi-million dollar drinks and foodstuff empire in Africa.

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