GENDER AND

ETHNICITY IN
BUSINESS
GROUP 3 MEMBERS
SSEWANKAMBO CHRISTOPHER
NAKAMYA PERULL
EDITH
MARTHA

25

TH

JUNE 2014

NATUKUNDA DRAKE
OPIO ARNOLD

INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW
GENDER AND ETHNICITY DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES

1. OVERVIEW
Gender is the state of being male or female (typically used with reference
to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones) (Oxford
British English Dictionary)
On the other hand, Ethnicity is the fact or state of belonging to a social
group that has a common national and cultural tradition (heritage,
ancestry, history, mythology, ritual, cuisine, dressing, physical
appearance, etc) (Oxford English Dictionary)
Uganda is the most ethnically diverse nation; Is home to more than 40
different indigenous ethnic groups
Major groups include; BAGANDA, ITESO, BASOGA, BANYAKORE, LANGI, etc
(Havard University Institute of Economic Research)

Ethnic groups %

OVERVIEW

16.9

RATIO OF MALE TO FEMALE IS ABOUT 1.01 ;

Women
Slightly edge over 50%

29.6

9.5

LIFE EXPECTANCY APPROX. 53 YEARS

TOTAL POPULATION
36,345,860

ABOUT 78% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION ARE

YOUTH (Under
35 years)

8.4

2.7
4.2
6.9

4.6
4.7

6.1

6.4

Bugands Banyakore Basoga Bakiga Iteso Langi Acoli Bagisu Lugbara Bunyoro Others

GENDER AND ETHNICITY IN BUSINESS

INTERESTING REMARKS
Gender and cultural norms are cross-cutting issues that often interact with one
another often influencing the business sector, often favouring one sex over the
other:
Women own and run significantly fewer businesses
than men (10% of entrepreneurs in the country)
Women tend to run significantly smaller
enterprises than men (retail including airtime vending,
food vending, roadside stalls, etc
81% of women entrepreneurs dont employ anybody

GENDER AND ETHNICITY

The northern region had the highest percentage of youthful women (under
35) entrepreneurs (78%) while the East had the lowest (54%)
Women posses less experience than men to concentrate in different
sectors (Business & corporate world)
Women run businesses tend to grow less than those owned by men
Womens businesses tend to be less profitable than mens often generating
lower turn over even in same industry comparisons
Married women with children are more likely to engage In entrepreneurship
than formal employment than non-married women

GENDER AND ETHNICITY

POSSIBLE REASONS WHY
Insufficient Education
Wealth disparities (Usually the men are custodians of family wealth like land,
culturally)
Family and Work status
Cultural reasons (discriminatory roles, biases in different ethnicities)
Reliance on men
Child bearing and domestic duties
Women are usually concerned with survival rather than growth (Balance work
with family)
Lack of exemplary role models
Gender based violence

GENDER AND ETHNICITY

NO DESPAIR!!! GLAMOUR OF HOPE?

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Improved University enrolments
More role models by the Day; Dr. Specioza Kazibwe, Vice president, entrepreneur
(Baskon girls hostel); Prof. Maggie Kigozi-board member Crown beverages, etc
Studies beginning to show better performance of Women managed institutions,
add value to companies
Favourable policies (targeting gender equality)
Outreach, training, facilitation programs centred on both women and men
(Enterprise Ug. , Private sector foundation
Women crossing gender barriers; participating in male dominated sectors e.g
boda boda

SOME ROLE MODELS ???

Female boda boda cyclist, Prof. Maggie Kigozi receiving African Achievers Award,
successful entrepreneur in Katakwi. Amulen Gorretti

CONCLUSION
Despite the tides, challenges and barriers associated with cultural and
gender differences, prosperity for all is quite achievable with vigorous
efforts, direction, indiscriminate guidance and government devotion.

REFERENCES
Oxford English Dictionary
Understanding Women Micro and Small Business Entrepreneurs in Uganda
by Rebecca Namatovu, Samuel Dawa, Celestine Katongole & Fiona Mulira
Women Entrepreneurs still lag behind, XtraOrdinary Magazine (online)
The World fact book
The Observer; Men still rule the boardrooms by Bamuturaki Musinguzi
(Thursday 16th Jan 2013)
Examining the entrepreneur gender gap, by Wim Naude and Maria Minniti,
United Nations University, 16th August 2011)