UWEP: Hoima district fails to recover Shs 650mln from women

HOIMA, January 25, 2025 — Hoima District Local Government authorities have failed to recover over Shs 650 million from women’s groups that have benefited from the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [ UWEP ] since 2018.

Run under the Gender Ministry, UWEP is an initiative of the Government of Uganda that is aimed at improving access to financial services for women and equipping them with skills for enterprise growth, value addition, and marketing of their products and services.

Joyce Kabatarya, the UWEP Focal Person for Hoima district, stated that several women’s groups, which were given funds to create wealth and employment opportunities, have not repaid the money.

She noted that many groups have struggled to repay due to excuses such as their businesses being adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, some groups have refused to repay the funds, citing a negative attitude where they perceived the money as a reward for political support.

According to Kabatarya, between the 2018 and 2020 financial years, the government disbursed Shs 850mln to 105 women’s groups in Hoima district. Unfortunately, only Shs 200mln has been recovered so far.

Kabatarya made this revelation on Tuesday during an operation launched by the district to recover the funds, which took in Kitonya Parish, Buhanika Sub-county.

“23 women’s groups in Buhanika Sub-County received Shs 200 million, 14 groups from Kitoba Sub-county received Shs 154 million, 17 women’s groups from Kigorobya Town Council owe Shs 91 million, Buseruka Sub-county owes Shs 67 million, Kabaale owes Shs 57 million, Kyabgambire owes Shs 47.5 million, and Bulindi Town Council owes Shs 22 million. Unfortunately, all of these groups have failed to repay,” Kabatarya explained.

She added that during the operation, officials were engaging with the women to encourage repayment, and those who fail to comply will face arrest.

“After engaging these women, we will give them a three-month grace period to repay. If they fail to comply, we will be forced to involve the police to ensure the defaulters are arrested,” Kabatarya said.

Davis Tumuhairwe, the Sub-county Chief for Buhanika, mentioned that his sub-county received Shs 200 million, but the beneficiaries have failed to repay, despite the funds being intended as a revolving loan.

He commended the district for its intervention, expressing hope that the operation would recover the funds, enabling other women’s groups to benefit.

Sara Kabasweka, a beneficiary from Kitonya Parish, Buhanika Sub-county, explained that some of their leaders, whom she did not name, had made them sign for the money but only gave them half of the allocated amount. She noted that this has made it difficult for their groups to repay money they never fully received.

Michael Kyakashari, the Deputy Mayor of Hoima City, said that while the government has played its part in trying to lift people out of poverty, many have not used the funds appropriately.

He expressed concern that, despite several government initiatives like UWEP, the Youth Livelihood Programme, the Parish Development Model [PDM], and Emyooga, communities are still grappling with poverty.

He pointed out that the recovery of funds from women and youth has been particularly challenging, and tracing beneficiaries has also proved difficult due to the presence of ghost members within some groups.

Kyakashari criticised the implementers of these programmes, particularly the community development officers, accusing them of colluding with beneficiaries to register ghost members for personal gain, which has further hindered the recovery process.

https://thecooperator.news/alebtong-shs-600mln-uwep-funds-unrecovered/

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