JONARD WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE & SAVINGS COOPERATIVE (JWESCO)

In Hoima City, across the villages of Bunyoro, and throughout Uganda, women are primary drivers of local economic activity and a core support system for families. Every day, enterprising women operate market stalls, roadside food ventures, catering businesses, tailoring shops, beauty salons, and other micro-enterprises. The income they generate supports household nutrition, school fees, healthcare, and community stability. Despite their hard work and business resilience, many women remain underserved by the formal banking sector.

Traditional commercial banks often operate with strict requirements, including collateral such as land titles or commercial property, extensive documentation, and formal credit histories. These conditions prevent many local women traders from accessing affordable credit when they need to restock, respond to emergencies, or expand their enterprises. Women therefore continue to rely on community savings groups that pool regular contributions and provide a practical financial safety net. JWESCO strengthens these existing savings practices by placing them within a more secure, accountable, and professionally managed cooperative structure.