In most third world countries, women are still struggling against many obstacles in-built in their social status. Economic life of women is regarded as disruptive of their social life.

It is remarkable how much power and strength some grassroot women in Uganda have gained over years, though most times they are invisible and unrecognized.

Information and communication Technology tools such as computers, mobile phones, projectors, digital cameras, music players have found applications in every conceivable area where people work and interact including businesses, educational institutes, religious institutes, research organizations and other sectors. And though much talked about, it is hardly used in some of the most important sectors in Uganda. Such sectors include the business and agricultural sectors.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are important tools in reducing poverty, improving education and healthcare, enhancing political participation and empowerment, improving business enterprises and promoting sustainable development.

At the end of June 2008, WOUGNET benefited from the NEPAD Spanish fund for empowerment of Women. The support was directed towards a project for Enhancing Income growth between Small and Micro Women Entrepreneurs in three districts of Uganda (Ibanda, Apac and Mukono).  The main goal of the project was to promote economic empowerment among women entrepreneurs in Uganda. This project was one of its kinds that WOUGNET implemented under its entrepreneurship area of operation. The project aimed at improving incomes of the women entrepreneurs through exploring and utilising ICTs in their enterprises and improved enterprise management skills.

The project targeted economically active women, already engaged in an enterprise that generates income. Fifty women were identified in each district (Ibanda, Apac and Mukono) as its main beneficiaries. These women were provided with relevant entrepreneurial information, entrepreneurial skills and business support information. They were equipped with ICT skills that enabled them explore and utilise relevant ICTs in their enterprises.

A web portal was designed for the women entrepreneurs to be a source of entrepreneurial information and a trade centre for the women entrepreneurs where they could market and sell their products.

The women entrepreneurs were monitored to assess their utilisation of information provided and skills in ICTs acquired in their enterprises.

Three trainings were carried out in the districts of Mukono, Ibanda and Apac respectively. The Women entrepreneurs were quipped with ICT skills and trained on how to use the portal. They gained skills and hands on training on how to upload information on the women in business portal and how to read and download information for their own use.

At the end of the project, evaluation will be done to examine the impact created by the project on the women entrepreneurs. The project runs for one year has so far been of great significance to the businesses of the beneficiaries.