By KT Reporter
Ten women’s groups in Kitgum District have received a total of UGX 60 million from the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), a government initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs and improving household incomes.
The funds, disbursed by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, will support various income-generating ventures including hairdressing, catering, poultry keeping, vegetable growing, fishmongering, piggery, and goat rearing.
David Anywar, the UWEP focal person for Kitgum District Local Government, said all beneficiary groups have undergone training on proper utilisation of the funds and the recovery process. He noted that the funds are interest-free and are expected to be repaid after three years.
“The Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme is a government initiative implemented as a rolling programme under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to improve women’s access to financial services and equip them with skills for enterprise growth, value addition, and marketing,”
Anywar said. He also revealed that Pudure Fish Mongering Women’s Group had missed out on funding in the previous financial year due to an anomaly identified by the ministry, but the issue has since been resolved. “Luckily, this time round, they have received their funds,” he added.
Since UWEP was rolled out in Kitgum District in the 2015/2016 financial year, more than UGX 1.09 billion has been disbursed to 171 sub-projects, with UGX 103 million already recovered.
Anywar expressed optimism that the programme will continue to positively transform the lives of women entrepreneurs and contribute to economic growth and development across the district.
Among the beneficiary groups is Kica Ber Hairdressing Women Group from Mucwini Sub- County, which received UGX 5 million; Walk to Work Women Catering Group from Orom East Sub- County, which received UGX 6 million; and Zaire Poultry Keeping Women Group, also from Orom East, which received UGX 6 million.
Other beneficiaries include Ribe Ber Vegetable Growers Women Group from Labongo Amida West Sub-county; Oget Fish Mongers Women Group from Labongo Akwang Sub-county with UGX 5 million; Good Feeding Women Catering Group from Lagoro Sub-county with UGX 5 million; Gen Rwot Goat Rearing Women Group from Omiya Anyima West Sub-county with UGX 5 million; Ryamakiliok Piggery Women Group from Kiteny Sub-county; Pudure Fish Mongering Women Group from Mucwini West Sub-county, which received UGX 10 million; and Rwot Lakica Goat Rearing Women Group, also from Mucwini West, which received UGX 6 million.
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