Sustainable Development and Enterprise in Uganda: A Gendered Analysis of Business Practices and Policy, 2010–2024

This original research addresses a critical gap in gendered analyses of sustainable enterprise within Uganda’s development agenda. It investigates how gender dynamics shape entrepreneurial practices and policy engagement in the context of national sustainable development objectives (2010–2024). Employing a rigorous mixed-methods approach, the study combines critical discourse analysis of policy documents from key ministries with thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 40 women entrepreneurs across Kampala, Jinja, and Gulu. The findings reveal a persistent disjuncture between progressive national policy rhetoric on gender equality and the lived realities of women-led enterprises. Although policies such as the National Development Plan III formally acknowledge women’s role, practical implementation is hindered by entrenched socio-cultural norms and structurally unequal access to green finance and technology. The data demonstrate that women entrepreneurs are innovatively integrating sustainable practices, often driven by community and environmental stewardship. However, their contributions remain systematically marginalised within formal policy dialogues and value chains. The article contends that achieving Uganda’s sustainable development targets necessitates a fundamental re-evaluation of business support frameworks to be intentionally gender-transformative. It concludes that empowering women-led enterprises is not merely a social equity issue but a strategic imperative for fostering inclusive, resilient economic growth aligned with continental aspirations.