In 2019, Women Vendors Network (WOVNET) conducted a study to establish the information
needs of women market vendors in Uganda. The aim of the study was to establish the
information needs of women market vendors, sources of information that are available, barriers
faced when accessing information, and making recommendations on the possible measures that
can be put in place to address the information needs barriers. Through a qualitative exploratory
research design, data was collected using interviews and observation, and analyzed using content
analysis method. The findings from the study revealed that the most commonly needed
information by women vendors was on sources of funding, saving, land and business
opportunities. Women vendors revealed that their major sources of information is use of mobile
phones, followed by radios, and suppliers of products for vending which featured both as an
information need and information source. Women vendors noted that barriers that limit them
include accessing information including language barrier; lack of airtime; unreliable information;
lack of information infrastructure and communication challenges between them and the local
authorities. The study came up with several recommendations for policy makers including need
to recognise women market vendors and their inclusion in urban development planning processes
by government, provision of relevant training particularly on information access and business
management and repackaging and advocacy and networking, dissemination of information on
the rights of women vendors through channels like radios and televisions.
