Women Entrepreneurship Supplement

Oct 24, 2016

The programme was the brainchild of the permanent secretary, pius bigirimana The programme

UWEP unlocks women's potential through gender ministry project

By Vision Reporters

Yudesi Rukurwe is one of the 120 women in Kiruhura district who, in June this year, received sh68.5m from the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP). The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development programme is aimed at achieving financial inclusion for women.

Kiruhura is one of the 20 local governments where UWEP was initiated. "Our group was already in existence. We were collecting and lending money among ourselves. When we heard about this programme, we applied for funding and we were considered," Rukurwe, a member of Bijubwe Bakazi Tukore women's group, narrates.

The group, with 13 members from Bijubwe in Nyakashashara subcounty, deals in bull fattening. "When we received the money, our procurement committee bought 10 young bulls and three cows in August," she says. They intend to fatten and sell the bulls. With the proceeds, they will pay back the project money and retain some profit.

 embers of edi oro trading in produce at pur market dwari subcounty in tuke Members of Bedi Woro trading in produce at Apur market, Adwari sub-county, in Otuke

 

Kiruhura district has nine beneficiary groups, each with between 10 and 15 members. The programme's district focal point person, Fortunate Abaho, explains that a total of 39 groups from five sub-counties expressed interest in accessing funding under UWEP when the programme kicked off last year.

Out of these, 19 groups were reviewed by the district and approved 10, from which the ministry approved nine for funding. Each received sh7m to sh8m. The groups have to pay back the money in three years. Repayments done within the first year attract zero interest, while any balance thereafter attracts a 5% annual service fee. The money will then be loaned to other groups.

Otuke

Otuke district is a renowned produce hub. It is, therefore, no coincidence that the majority of the women groups that have accessed funding under UWEP are engaged in produce buying and selling. Mary Grace Okori, a member of Bedi Woro women group, located right in the heart of Otuke town council, says most women realised that produce buying and selling could earn them quick returns.

Eight groups are now engaged in various enterprises that will enable them provide for their families. "Otuke has not received sufficient rains this season and people have not done so well in terms of food stock.

 embers of abami others nion roup weigh produce hey buy the produce during peak seasons and store it to sell during off seasons Members of Kabami Mothers' Union Group weigh produce. They buy the produce during peak seasons and store it to sell during off seasons

 

So the women's groups buy food from other districts, bring it to Otuke and sell," the district community development officer, Silvester Ocen, says. According to Christine Auma, the general secretary of Mara En Teko women's group, raising school fees and feeding their families are among the major issues affecting women in Otuke.

"We have started realising some benefits and our husbands now respect us because they have seen us doing something that can support the family. This has also reduced cases of domestic violence. We are seeing this as a lifechanging programme and we thank those who are behind the initiative," Auma explains.

Kisoro

"This is one of the best government programmes to come our way," says Jovanith Uwineza, a member of one of the groups that have received money in Kisoro. Uwineza belongs to one of the 21 women groups in Kisoro district that received funding to the tune of sh70.9m under UWEP, this year.

Kabami Mother's Union in Murora subcounty received sh5m. The group purchases and stores produce to be sold during the off-peak season in the dry months of October, November and December. In Kanaba sub-county, Kagano Bacyara Turwany'ubukene planted onions on hired land and they are flourishing.

 ijubwe akazi ukore women groups cows Bijubwe Bakazi Tukore women group's cows

 

From sh2.5m received from UWEP, the group projects to recoup triple their investment. They expect their first harvest by close of December. For a programme started barely eight months back, it is results like these that are quickly turning UWEP into a lifeline.

A brainchild of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Pius Bigirimana, the programme is poised to contribute to the creation of wealth at the household level. It is also in line with the National Development Plan II 2015-2020, whose goal is to promote women's economic empowerment.

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