More than 150 interior designers, architects, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and other construction industry players are expected to gather in Kampala this Saturday for the second Women in Design Summit, aimed at strengthening collaboration, promoting professionalism and unlocking business opportunities in the sector.
Organised by the Women in Design community, the summit will take place on November 14, 2026, at Onomo Hotel under the theme, “Designing the Future, Building the Legacy.”
The event will provide a platform for industry players to showcase their work, exchange knowledge, establish business partnerships and discuss challenges affecting Uganda’s interior design and construction supply chain.
A major highlight of the summit will be the launch of the Women in Design (WID) digital portal, a new initiative designed to connect clients with verified interior designers, suppliers, manufacturers and other construction industry professionals.
Speaking ahead of the event, Women in Design President Christine Masiika said the summit was part of the community’s efforts to address longstanding challenges affecting professionals, particularly women working in the interior design industry.
She said the community was established in 2024 after women in the sector identified challenges including professional isolation, limited access to reliable suppliers and difficulties in sourcing quality products and services.
“Women in Design was born out of challenges that women in the industry were facing, including working in isolation, not knowing reliable suppliers and dealing with suppliers who provided substandard products or delivered poor-quality work on project sites,” Masiika said.
She explained that the summit would bring together different players in the construction supply chain to address market fragmentation, which has often limited collaboration, efficiency and business opportunities.
“One of the gaps we have identified over the years is that the market is highly segmented. Suppliers do not know the designers, and designers do not know the manufacturers. We therefore set out to develop a technology solution that brings all these players together,” she said.
Masiika said the summit would also provide an opportunity to increase the visibility of women professionals by showcasing their completed projects, expertise and capabilities to potential clients and business partners.
She noted that improving women’s visibility, professional knowledge and access to projects would contribute to their economic empowerment, with positive effects on households and the wider economy.
The gathering will also feature discussions on professional standards, quality assurance, technology and the need for stronger regulation in the construction and interior design industry.
Masiika called on government to strengthen standardisation and certification in the sector to protect consumers against substandard products and unqualified practitioners.
She said the Buy Uganda Build Uganda policy should be supported by effective quality assurance measures to guarantee the durability and competitiveness of locally manufactured products.
Meanwhile, Lisa Andera of ABC Group Uganda, the summit’s main sponsor, said the partnership presented an opportunity to strengthen relationships with women professionals who play an important role in the design and selection of construction finishing products.
“Our mission in partnering with Women in Design is to increase the visibility of the luxury products we offer. These women are among the biggest clients in the market, and we want to bring our products closer to them and work together to deliver high-quality projects,” Andera said.
She added that the partnership would enable designers to access a wider range of finishing products, including premium options for residential and commercial developments.
Asiah Katende Lutaaya of Women in Design said the summit would celebrate women’s contributions to the industry while introducing initiatives aimed at improving professionalism, access to opportunities and service delivery.
She encouraged both men and women to participate, noting that although the community champions women’s advancement, transforming the industry requires collaboration among all stakeholders.
The organisers said participation was open to interested industry players, with tickets priced at Shs200,000 and available through Quicket.
