Business 6 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda's Digital Gender Gap Hinders Women in E-Commerce Boom
Ugandan women entrepreneurs are falling behind men in e-commerce due to low digital literacy, high transaction fees, and limited device access, putting SMEs at risk amid projected $5 billion trade growth by 2029. Experts call for reduced mobile money costs and targeted training to bridge the divide. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/digital-divide-leaves-ugandan-women-trailing-men-in-e-commerce-5448818
Uganda’s e-commerce sector is booming, with trade volumes expected to hit $5 billion by 2029, fueled by mobile money and social media. However, women-owned businesses are largely sidelined by barriers like poor digital skills and cultural hurdles.
Claire Gatete, programme manager at the Federation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (FSME) Uganda, highlighted that women often own phones but use them mainly for photos rather than transactions. She noted that 60-70% of women struggle with gadget use and find digital fees burdensome.
FSME has urged the government to cut mobile money fees from 0.5% to 0.25% to help informal sector women shift to digital commerce. This would simplify local and cross-border dealings, Gatete said during a Gulu City training event.
Supported by UNCDF and Mastercard Foundation, FSME’s ‘Business Ku Ssimu Yo’ campaign builds entrepreneurs’ confidence in digital finance tools. Mobile phones are vital for payments and supplier links, yet many women-led SMEs underutilize them.
International Trade Centre’s Boulelouah Abdelbasset warned that low e-commerce adoption contributes to SME failures. He stressed underuse of platforms like Facebook and Instagram, despite customer shifts to online buying. ITC’s STAR project offers training in market research and online sales.
A 2025 Ipsos study showed only 35% of SMEs use digital tech, with 35.5% having smartphones, 53.4% lacking both smartphones and computers, and just 9.8% accessing both.
Without interventions like affordable fees and skills programs, the gender gap in e-commerce will widen, analysts predict.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)