Minister urges women to embrace govt programmes

MBALE, April 25, 2024  – The Minister of State Elderly, Dominic Mafwabi Gidudu has urged the women in Uganda to embrace different government programmes aimed at driving poverty out of households.

According to Mafwabi, Ugandan women are considered a priority when it comes to government programmes and as such, they should take advantage of such programmes.

The minister said government has introduced many programmes to address household income such as Emyooga, the Parish Development Model [PDM] where women are allocated 30 percent of the funds, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP], and Operation Wealth Creation [OWC],  among others.

The minister made the call on Tuesday during awareness and sensitisation engagements for elderly women entrepreneurs on Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Entreprises [GROW] project.

The US$ 217 million [about Shs 800mln] project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment, and create more jobs.

Run under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, GROW’s objective is to increase access to entrepreneurial services that enable female entrepreneurs to grow their enterprises in targeted locations, including in refugee-hosting districts.

Minister Mafwabi who was speaking at Mbale Resort Hotel in Mbale City said government has moved away from addressing general economic issues to addressing household incomes.

According to him, government programmes, are meant to lift Ugandans and women out of abject poverty.

He said his office has embarked on the mobilisation and sensitisation of women entrepreneurs about their various roles in the implementation of government’s development programmes. “This will, in turn, enable the beneficiaries to realise good outcomes of government programmes.”

He encouraged the women entrepreneurs to be innovative if they are to survive in the competitive business environment.

He also advised women to form Village Savings and Loans associations [VSLAs] and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations [SACCOs], saying this would help them grow a savings culture.

Judith Akello, an entrepreneur, said women face several challenges in accessing government programmes. Such challenges, she said include gender inequalities that limit the ability of women and girls to fully participate in, and benefit from development programmes.

https://thecooperator.news/minister-urges-women-entrepreneurs-to-embrace-grow-project/

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