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Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurship: A Developing Country Perspective

Author

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  • Bob Ssekiziyivu
  • Francis Mbah Takwi
  • Eunice Kabahinda

Abstract

This article examines the challenges faced by women entrepreneurship in Kampala City, Uganda. Our main objective was to investigate the impediments to the growth of businesses owned by women. We adopted a qualitative phenomenological approach for the study in order to get an in-depth understanding of impediments to the growth of businesses owned by women. Random purposeful sampling was used to select 13 women entrepreneurs. The results indicate that competition, liquidities and financial challenges, discouragement by men, discrimination, limited family support, harassment, limited business time, lack of trainings and poor business location are the major challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Kampala, Uganda. The study provides a significant contribution to the already existing literature on women entrepreneurship by providing initial evidence of the practical challenges they face as entrepreneurs using evidence from a developing country—Uganda. Besides, the study suggests the need to provide more entrepreneurial skills to women to enable them to manage their businesses appropriately. Also, women need to be empowered to easily access finances to help them boost their businesses to trade globally.

Suggested Citation

  • Bob Ssekiziyivu & Francis Mbah Takwi & Eunice Kabahinda, 2025. "Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurship: A Developing Country Perspective," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 11(1), pages 37-48, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jouent:v:11:y:2025:i:1:p:37-48
    DOI: 10.1177/23939575241277331
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John O. Okpara & Daphne Halkias & Chinedum Nwajiuba & Nicholas Harkiolakis & Sylva M. Caracatsanis, 2011. "Challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Nigeria," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 34(2), pages 221-235, January.
    2. Lois M. Shelton, 2006. "Female Entrepreneurs, Work–Family Conflict, and Venture Performance: New Insights into the Work–Family Interface," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 285-297, April.
    3. Daphne Halkias & Chinedum Nwajiuba & Nicholas Harkiolakis & Sylva M. Caracatsanis, 2011. "Challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Nigeria," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 34(2), pages 221-235, January.
    4. Tatiana Iakovleva & Jill Kickul, 2011. "Beyond social capital: the role of perceived legitimacy and entrepreneurial intensity in achieving funding success and superior venture performance in women-led Russian SMEs," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 14(1), pages 13-38.
    5. Alsen Florian Kapinga & Calkin Suero Montero, 2017. "Exploring the socio-cultural challenges of food processing women entrepreneurs in IRINGA, TANZANIA and strategies used to tackle them," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 7(1), pages 1-24, December.
    6. Magnus Holmén & Thaw Tar Min & Emilia Saarelainen, 2011. "Female Entrepreneurship In Afghanistan," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 16(03), pages 307-331.
    7. Prince Karakire Guma, 2015. "Business in the urban informal economy: barriers to women's entrepreneurship in Uganda," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 305-321, September.
    8. JohnBosco Kakooza & Immaculate Tusiime & Sophia Namiyingo & Ruth Nabwami & Mellan Basemera, 2023. "Business choice, location decision and success of small and medium enterprises in Uganda," Journal of Money and Business, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 3(1), pages 108-121, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Arijita Dutta & Sharmistha Banerjee & Olivia Sarkar, 2026. "Leveraging Generational Experience for Entrepreneurship Attitude: Study of Women Entrepreneurs in Myanmar and Malaysia," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 12(1), pages 75-97, January.

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