Agago officials warned against frustrating GROW project

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Economic monitoring state minister Beatrice Akello Akori has cautioned Agago district officials against frustrating GROW project implementation.

Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women (GROW) is a $17m (about sh800b) project funded by the World Bank-funded under the Private Sector Foundation Uganda. The project, which targets women entrepreneurs already in business but need support, is scheduled to run up to 2027.

The project is a government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs.

Representing gender minister Betty Amongi during the belated International Women's Day celebrations of the district at Patongo town council on May 16, 2024, Akello advised them to do the right thing by selecting women who are already in business.

“They should select women who are already doing business because if you select someone who doesn’t have any experience in doing business and you give such a person a big sum of money. There is a high possibility that the money will not be effective to the person,” she said.

Monitor selection

“So we want to increase the capacity of those who are already in business and they have experience. Therefore, we shall closely monitor the selection criteria of the beneficiary of the project,” Akello added.

She also advised them to do more sensitisation, especially the community development office who is well armed with the information to train other women who do not have the information about the project.  

Akello, who is also the Agago District Woman Member of Parliament, also directed the Resident District Commissioner and his team to monitor the project right from the selection to the implementation to ensure that corruption is mitigated in the process.

“They should ensure that the right beneficiaries are selected because when the right beneficiaries are selected we shall be very sure that the project will succeed,” she added.

Poverty levels to reduce

Agago County MP David Lagen Atuka said the project is unique in a sense that it targets women who are struggling in business.

Products processed from Agago being exhibited during the belated celebration at Patongo Town council on May 16. (Photo by Patrick Okino)

He says if properly utilised, the poverty levels in the households and gender-based violence in the communities will reduce because the family will be able to access money and use it to pay school fees for their children and cater for domestic needs.

The district community development officer, Gabriel Oola, said over 200 women have applied for skill training components in different enterprises while others are waiting for grants and loans.

Naity Akello, a business woman dealing in sim-sim paste and honey, said she has applied for skill training on mushroom production to diversify her business for a better income.