Barefoot in Business premieres tonight, Monday, September 9, 2013 at 22:30 GMT on Witness, Al Jazeera’s flagship documentary series strand.

Women in Uganda have made great strides over the years, including venturing into the private sector, an area formerly dominated by men, and are doing well. Businesses run and owned by women have steadily been on the rise, further boosting the country’s economy. Notable, considering ongoing criticism of the country’s gender based and sexual violence against women and girls, affecting a reported substantial portion of the female population, and the numerous efforts, both internally, and from *outsiders* to combat those problematic societal norms.

More details on the Al Jazeera documentary below:

Barefoot in Business follows the fortunes of Ugandan businesswomen as they compete for the prestigious title of Female Entrepreneur of the Year.

After retiring from a bank job, 68-year-old Benedicta Nanyonga launched the Kinawataka Bag Company, which transforms used drinking straws into bags, hats, shoes and even jewelry. Benedicta has big plans for her company but her biggest problem is finding someone able to service the machines she needs to facilitate her unique production process.

Regina Mukiibi is CEO of Uganda Funeral Services Ltd, whose aim is to ensure that her customers leave her office feeling some hope and solace at a time of grief.

This inspirational film shows us what these unsung heroines of the Ugandan economy have to teach the credit-crunch-ridden developed economies about the meaning of success.