Kumi PWDs receive Shs 70mln from Gender ministry

KUMI – Fourteen groups of Persons with Disabilities [ PWDs ] in Kumi district have received Shs 70 million from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development’s National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities [NSG].

Ahmed Washaki, the Kumi resident district commissioner, on Tuesday, presented the funds to the groups to assist them in establishing income-generating projects.

Most of the groups are venturing into sheep and goat rearing.

While handing over the authority letters to the groups to access funds in their bank accounts, Washaki called upon the beneficiaries to invest in planned projects.

“Such funds have transformed the lives of people with disabilities in various parts of the country. I thank them for putting the money to good use because once their lives change, other members are inspired,” Washaki said.

He praised some of the PWDs in the district for focusing on more profitable crops.

In September 2021, another batch of 12 groups with 139 members also accessed Shs 60mln which they have since invested in similar projects helping them to fight poverty.

“I thank the President of the Republic of Uganda H.E Yoweri Museveni for caring about the vulnerable groups,” Washaki said.

One of the beneficiaries said her group intends to engage in poultry keeping, especially local chicken. “We want to keep local chicken since they are easy to manage,” she said, adding that they will be able to sell eggs as well.

According to Hellen Grace Asamo, the Minister of State for Disability Affairs, the Special Grants programme began in the financial year 2009/2010 with shs 3 billion being provided to all local governments through the Social Sector Development Grant from Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

“Successes have been registered in the course of implementation of the grant especially upscaling the entrepreneurship skills among PWDs, provision of grants to over 20,000 PWD Households across the country among others,” she said.

The National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities is one of the Government flagship programmes that support Persons with Disabilities with startup capital to initiate income-generating activities for increased household incomes, says Aggrey David Kibenge, the  Permanent Secretary in the Gender ministry.

https://thecooperator.news/eight-arrested-over-wetland-degradation-in-kumi/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

Views: 1