LIRA– The Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP] is boosting the livelihoods of women in Lira district, according to reports.
UWEP is an initiative of the Government of Uganda 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.
The programme is designed to address the challenges women face in undertaking economically viable enterprises including limited access to affordable credit, limited technical knowledge and skills for business development, limited access to markets as well as information regarding business opportunities.
The programme under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is envisaged to increase participation of women in business development, increase their incomes, livelihood security and overall quality of life.
Lira district was Shs 888 million in the financial year 2015/2016 under UWEP to support 151 groups targeting 1981 beneficiaries in the different business enterprises.
The enterprises among others include poultry and goat rearing, piggery, and produce.
Sarah Amolo a member of Bed Igen Women Group that deals in produce business in Awiiodyek Sub- County said that she was able to expand her business using the revolving fund she acquired under UWEP and can now meet the basic needs of her family.
Besides produce, Amolo is also into rearing goats, piggery, and poultry business.
“I had a small produce business but when I joined the group, I was able to expand it and now I have some animals and birds that I am rearing. The business is helping us to pay school fees for our children and has re-ignited the love that has been lost between me and my husband,” Amolo cheerfully told this reporter.
Janet Koli, a member of Par-anyim Women Group in Ayami Sub-county, says UWEP’s cheap loans have enabled her to prosper to the extent that she is now able to meet most of the basic needs of her family such as paying school fees.
Scovia Apio, the chairperson of Agamo Ngec Women Group which deals with Oxen ploughing in Aromo Sub-county said they have made some profits despite receiving the UWEP funds in March this year.
Apio added that the group also does savings where members can borrow while part of the money is used to service the UWEP loan.
Christine Anono, the Lira district community development officer says the project is addressing poverty in women-led households, adding that the women are willingly paying back the loans.
“We are not following or running after them. You just see them coming with receipts indicating they have deposited money into bank accounts,” Anono said.
“And right now, they are even requesting for the second disbursement and we are working towards seeing them get this money,” Anono added.
Anono is however hopeful that the district will soon recover the Shs 626 million disbursed to the women groups.
https://thecooperator.news/fighting-poverty-women-urged-to-embrace-govt-programmes/
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