Alice Sharon Namugerwa: Transforming Uganda’s Beauty and Lifestyle Industry Through Innovation

Alice Sharon Namugerwa is a visionary Ugandan entrepreneur and tech innovator, best known as the founder and CEO of Belle Beauty Uganda. Through her pioneering digital platform, she has created a space that empowers women entrepreneurs, promotes local beauty and lifestyle businesses, and redefines how services and products are accessed in Uganda and the wider East African region.

From Challenge to Opportunity

Alice’s journey into entrepreneurship began during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when Uganda’s beauty and lifestyle industry was severely disrupted. With salons closed and traditional business models collapsing, many service providers struggled to sustain their livelihoods. Rather than seeing this as a setback, Alice saw an opportunity. She envisioned a digital platform that would connect beauty professionals with customers, bridging the gap between talent and market even amidst movement restrictions.

Her initial idea was further strengthened when she participated in the 2021 HiPipo Women in Fintech Hackathon, where she and her team developed a minimum viable product. This experience provided the technical and strategic support needed to bring Belle Beauty to life as a fully functional digital platform, ready to scale across Uganda.

Belle Beauty: More Than a Platform

Founded in 2021, Belle Beauty Uganda is East Africa’s first digital platform to integrate three marketplaces in one: events, services, and products. Today, the platform serves as a trusted hub for beauty, fashion, and lifestyle while creating opportunities for small businesses and service providers to thrive in the digital economy.

Belle Beauty has grown rapidly, boasting over 800 subscribers, more than 500 vendors, and over 100 service providers, with vendor numbers increasing steadily each month. The platform offers free online shop hosting and service listings, giving entrepreneurs visibility and access to customers that enables sustainable growth.

Beyond commerce, Belle Beauty fosters community impact. Monthly business meet-ups, the flagship Small Business Chat Event, and lifestyle-focused conversations on topics such as mental health and women’s empowerment ensure the platform is not just about buying and selling, but also about learning, networking, and growth.

Leadership and Recognition

At the helm of Belle Beauty is one of Uganda’s few female tech founders. Alice’s vision demonstrates that beauty and lifestyle extend beyond products; they are pathways to confidence, economic independence, and stronger communities. Her leadership has positioned Belle Beauty as a leading lifestyle platform in East Africa, influencing the digital economy while empowering women to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation.

Why Alice Moves Nations

Alice Sharon Namugerwa moves nations by turning challenges into platforms for opportunity. Through Belle Beauty, she has:

• Empowered women entrepreneurs to reach customers and scale businesses digitally.
• Bridged gaps in the beauty and lifestyle industry by creating accessible, reliable platforms for services, products, and events.
• Fostered a culture of mentorship, learning, and networking that strengthens communities and encourages collaboration.
• Redefined the role of technology in economic inclusion, showing that digital innovation can drive social and economic impact.

Her story proves that vision, resilience, and ingenuity can transform industries and create lasting change. By lifting others as she rises, Alice Sharon Namugerwa is shaping Uganda’s digital economy, empowering women, and inspiring a generation of innovators to follow her lead.