{"id":234,"date":"2026-02-17T11:37:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/agnes-netonze-chitumba\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T11:43:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:43:55","slug":"agnes-netonze-chitumba","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/agnes-netonze-chitumba\/","title":{"rendered":"Agnes Netonze Chitumba"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"234\" class=\"elementor elementor-234\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0f02af2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0f02af2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e4a71fc\" data-id=\"e4a71fc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d887435 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d887435\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Agnes-Drawing-e1771328044947.png?fit=300%2C258&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-229\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Agnes-Drawing-e1771328044947.png?w=942&amp;ssl=1 942w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Agnes-Drawing-e1771328044947.png?resize=300%2C258&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Agnes-Drawing-e1771328044947.png?resize=768%2C660&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6cd27d5\" data-id=\"6cd27d5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fc6b79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3fc6b79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u00a0<\/h3><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bbf401a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bbf401a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7937da4\" data-id=\"7937da4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-533d246 elementor-tabs-view-horizontal elementor-widget elementor-widget-tabs\" data-id=\"533d246\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"tabs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tabs\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tabs-wrapper\" role=\"tablist\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-8721\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"true\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8721\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Background<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-8722\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8722\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Journey<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-8723\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8723\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Strategy<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-8724\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8724\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Success<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-8725\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8725\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Advice<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tabs-content-wrapper\" role=\"tablist\" aria-orientation=\"vertical\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"true\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8721\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Background<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-8721\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-8721\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"false\"><p><strong>Agnes Netonze Chitumba<\/strong> is a married woman, mother of five, and social entrepreneur based in Kampala, Uganda. Raised primarily by her father, Agnes grew up under strong expectations. Her father dreamed she would become a doctor \u2014 a path that, for a time, felt imposed rather than chosen.<\/p><p>As she matured, Agnes began discovering her own interests and direction. She pursued a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Procurement and Logistics, encouraged by the promise that it would lead to a prestigious corporate career in multinational companies.<\/p><p>Like many graduates, reality proved different. It took her eight months just to secure an internship placement \u2014 an experience that would unexpectedly redirect her life\u2019s work.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8722\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Journey<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-8722\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-8722\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"hidden\"><p>Agnes eventually secured an internship at a small, women-led shoe manufacturing enterprise called SECO. Initially, it was meant to be a short placement \u2014 a stepping stone toward corporate employment.<\/p><p>But within two months, everything changed.<\/p><p>Working alongside women who were crafting shoes and transforming their livelihoods through enterprise stirred something deeper in her. She became inspired not just by the product, but by the empowerment behind it.<\/p><p>That moment sparked her entrepreneurial awakening.<\/p><p>She realized she didn\u2019t have to wait to be employed \u2014 she could create employment.<\/p><p>This realization led to the founding of <strong>Arise Collections Limited<\/strong>, a leather and textiles social enterprise focused on sustainability and women\u2019s economic empowerment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8723\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Strategy<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-8723\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-8723\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"hidden\"><p>Agnes built Arise Collections around three core pillars:<\/p><h3>1. <strong>Sustainable Manufacturing<\/strong><\/h3><p>The business repurposes hides and skins from the beef industry \u2014 materials that would otherwise go to waste \u2014 transforming them into high-quality leather bags, shoes, jewelry, and apparel.<\/p><p>She often jokes:<\/p><p>\u201cAs long as we have sisters and brothers who are \u2018meat-licious,\u2019 the hides and skins will always be there.\u201d<\/p><p>By positioning the company within the recycling value chain of the meat industry, Arise merges environmental sustainability with manufacturing.<\/p><h3>2. <strong>Impact-Driven Production<\/strong><\/h3><p>The enterprise works primarily with disadvantaged Ugandan women, bringing them into workshops where they are trained and employed to produce export-quality goods sold in international markets.<\/p><h3>3. <strong>Community &amp; Collaboration<\/strong><\/h3><p>Agnes emphasizes ecosystems over isolation. She actively builds networks with fellow entrepreneurs \u2014 locally and globally \u2014 believing shared energy, referrals, and emotional support are critical for survival.<\/p><p>She champions entrepreneurial communities where women uplift one another through shared learning and partnership.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8724\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Success<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-8724\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-8724\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"hidden\"><p>For Agnes, success is measured in both enterprise growth and human impact.<\/p><p>Arise Collections has built:<\/p><ul><li>A skilled female manufacturing workforce<\/li><li>A global customer base, particularly in the U.S. and Europe<\/li><li>A strong e-commerce platform selling Ugandan-made goods worldwide<\/li><\/ul><p>She proudly describes their buyers as part of a \u201csisterhood\u201d \u2014 consumers who purchase not just products, but purpose.<\/p><p>Internally, Arise operates like a family:<\/p><ul><li>They celebrate births together<\/li><li>Babies visit the workshop before maternity leave begins<\/li><li>Wins and losses are shared collectively<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>She believes organizational culture is as important as commercial performance.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-8725\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Advice<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-8725\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-8725\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"hidden\"><p>Agnes offers grounded, experience-driven insights for entrepreneurs \u2014 especially African women:<\/p><h3><strong>1. Find Your Community<\/strong><\/h3><p>Entrepreneurship is emotionally demanding. Build circles where you can learn, recharge, and share burdens.<\/p><p>\u201cIf you want to go far, walk alone. If you want to go farthest, go together.\u201d<\/p><h3><strong>2. Be Strategic About Funding<\/strong><\/h3><p>Funding is available \u2014 but discernment is key.<\/p><p>Entrepreneurs must ask:<\/p><ul><li>Do we need funding?<\/li><li>How much?<\/li><li>When?<\/li><li>From whom?<\/li><\/ul><p>Too much funding can damage a business just as much as too little.<\/p><h3><strong>3. Formalize Early<\/strong><\/h3><p>Legal registration, documentation, and governance structures make it easier for funders to trust and invest.<\/p><h3><strong>4. Balance Impact &amp; Profit<\/strong><\/h3><p>Running a social enterprise means constantly balancing mission with financial sustainability \u2014 one of her toughest ongoing lessons.<\/p><h3><strong>5. Build a Strong Support System<\/strong><\/h3><p>Family, partners, friends, neighbors, and faith communities all play a role in sustaining women entrepreneurs juggling business and home life.<\/p><h3><strong>6. Embrace Technology<\/strong><\/h3><p>E-commerce and digital platforms allow African women to manufacture locally and sell globally \u2014 without leaving their countries.<\/p><h3><strong>7. Seek Mentorship<\/strong><\/h3><p>Mentors provide perspective, emotional support, and strategic guidance during moments of doubt \u2014 in business and in life.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 Background Journey Strategy Success Advice Background Agnes Netonze Chitumba is a married woman, mother of five, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-234","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=234"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":244,"href":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/234\/revisions\/244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/candidbusinesswomen.co.ke\/book\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}