Youth Minister Dr Mercy Faith Lakica has warned local government officials in Northern Uganda against embezzling funds disbursed by the government targeting the improvement of women’s livelihoods.
Lakica’s warning comes as the government, through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, prepares to roll out the Business Plan Competition grant, a new World Bank-funded initiative targeting women entrepreneurs in micro- and small enterprises.
The initiative, which replaces the first phase of the World Bank-funded Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project.
Lakica noted that the new initiative is aimed at supporting women-led small enterprises to expand into macro enterprises capable of driving women into the money economy largely dominated by male entrepreneurs. The Minister was speaking at the opening of a regional orientation for local government stakeholders from Lango, Acholi, and parts of Kiryandongo district Thursday in Gulu City.
She, however, warned officials in the local government who are planning to defraud money from vulnerable beneficiaries that the government in its anti-graft campaign wouldn’t spare them.
According to Lakica, applications for the grant will be done digitally, limiting potential fraud, and women entrepreneurs are called on to embrace the new initiative.
At least 2,626 women, including vulnerable groups with disabilities and minority tribes such as the Benet, Tepeth, and the Batwa, and over 700 refugee women in Lamwo district, are set to benefit from the government funding.
However, Lakica noted that there is a need for local government leaders to help the government in dispelling rumours within the community and warn political leaders against politicizing the project for their own gains.
Under the new initiative, which runs until June 2027, eligible beneficiaries will receive grants for selected enterprises ranging from a minimum of 3.5 million shillings up to 100 million shillings.
According to Lakica, the new grant will only be given to women who have never benefited under the GROW project. Unlike the GROW project, that the benefited only women, the Business Plan Competition Grant will include male entrepreneurs who jointly own businesses with their spouses, with females expected to have a majority share (51 percent while male 49 percent.
Marita Aneko, the Chairperson of the Women Entrepreneurs Platform (WEP) in Amolatar District, said that while she appreciates the government’s efforts to empower women entrepreneurs, the new grant shouldn’t only be given to new beneficiaries.
Aneko said that the government should instead reconsider giving the grant to successful old members who have utilized the GROW loan appropriately and fully cleared it within the specific time frame.
She also suggested that the Gender Ministry should make amendments to the value of collateral presented in banks while applying for the grant, citing that experience under the GROW project left many applicants unable to secure loans. For instance, Aneko said banks required valid land titles or documents in the names of the applicants, yet the majority never had land.
Emmanuel Oceng, a grant specialist at the Gender Ministry, however, clarified that while there is a call to include previous beneficiaries, the new World Bank policy prohibits those who got money in the first phase of the GROW Project since the funding is from the same pool.
“If you benefited from the GROW loan, you are not eligible for this grant because this is from the same pot and you cannot benefit twice; this is a policy from the World Bank that GROW loan beneficiaries cannot benefit from this grant because this is free money,” said Oceng.
The sectors expected to be issued the grants are those in Agribusinesses that are adding value to their products, the construction sector, the Arts and Creatives industry, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), childcare services, mental health rehabilitation, and waste recycling, among others-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
