"SUPPORT OR SUFFOCATE": THE CASE OF UGANDAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

The aim of this paper is to investigate the entrepreneurial environment and government policy and how it influences entrepreneurial levels among Ugandan women. This study derives data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Uganda (GEM) 2003-2009. Findings revealed that perceptions of women's entrepreneurial environment have changed from negative to positive especially in the area of providing social services and equal opportunities for both women and men to start a business. They reveal that although there's an improvement in government policies that support entrepreneurship, those policies that regulate entrepreneurship are still lacking. Furthermore the overall entrepreneurial activity among women in Uganda has increased by 24% with majority being engaged in unproductive entrepreneurship.