Compiled by: Federick Dramadri

ARUA CITY. The State Minister for Northern Uganda Hon Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny Flagged off the regional rollout and sensitization of 11 local governments in West Nile region under the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project at Muni University with stakeholders calling for transparency and accountability in the implementation of the $ 217 million facility for women entrepreneurs.

The project targeting all women led enterprises across the country financed by World Bank is expected to end by December 2027.

Stakeholders in west Nile region are asking Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development to be considerate in the regional imbalances while implementing the women empowerment projects.

This comes at a time government of Uganda through the ministry is engaging stakeholders across the country on the accelerated project for women entrepreneurs termed to be Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project funded by World Bank expected to benefit women in business across the country.

Zomura Maneno, Woman MP Obongi District Implored Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development officials to increase funding for community services at local governments while ensuring that the women empowerment projects like GROW are equally distributed across local governments in the country.

Records from Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development indicate that Uganda’s population of above 45million people comprises of 51% women and girls compared to 49% of boys and men while the labor force participation rate for women stands at 39% compared to 53% for men implying that 4 out of 10 of the women in the country are employed far below the 6 out of 10 men who are employed.

Bernard Amuriat, Assistant Commissioner Labour Inspectorate, explained that majority of the country’s women are still lagging behind on financial equity that is hence a reason for the implementation of the GROW Project

Currently Uganda’s middle income earners among employed women stands at 1,680,000 shillings annually compared shs 3,000,000 for men while majority of the women population of  64% being independent workers doing their personal businesses as per Uganda Bureau of statistics biannual report 2022

Hon. Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny the State Minister for Northern Uganda task the implementers of the project to exhibit transparency and avoid bureaucracies to bridge the financial inequalities that exist in the country

Out of the 217 million US dollars, equivalent of 822.4 billion shillings, 40million US Dollars’ worth 151.5 billion shillings will be utilized by the refugee hosting districts to benefit both the refugees and host communities.