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GROW project: MP Ssewagudde decries exclusion of women with disabilities
Ssewagudde noted that persons with disability are tired of appearing in reports and data without seeing a visible impact on the ground. He called for transparent reporting, accountability, and evidence of inclusion.
Robert Ssewagudde, a Member of Parliament with a hearing impairment, uses sign language during a panel discussion on the GROW Project at the FY 2026/27 Budget Dialogue themed “Budgeting for Investment and Economic Opportunities” held at Hotel Africana. (Credit: Paul Kiwuuwa)
By: Paul Kiwuuwa, Journalist @New Vision
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Women with disabilities have not benefited from the Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project as expected, Robert Ssewagudde, a legislator representing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), has said.
Ssewagudde said: “I have travelled to all the 146 districts of Uganda and engaged leaders of persons with disabilities, who raised concerns that women with disabilities in their communities had not benefited from the GROW Project despite being reflected in project reports and beneficiary statistics.”
He made remarks during the panel discussion of the Financial Year 2026/27 budget dialogue held at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Tuesday. The dialogue was held under the theme “Budgeting for Investment and economic opportunities.”
The GROW Project is a government initiative funded by the World Bank, implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, with the aim of empowering women. The Private Sector Foundation Uganda is the primary implementing agency, handling private sector engagements, skilling, and business support.
Ssewagudde noted that persons with disability are tired of appearing in reports and data without seeing a visible impact on the ground. He called for transparent reporting, accountability, and evidence of inclusion.
He also called upon the coordinators of the GROW project to ensure that women with disability access to the funding to pave the way for their business development.
“Introducing affirmative action measures for women with disability will pave way for equal benefit from the GROW project and will improve women's livelihoods,” Ssewagudde noted, who has a hearing impairment.
Speaking through a sign language interpreter, Ssewagudde challenged the GROW Project National Project Coordinator, John Ssengendo, to stop reporting that women with disabilities are benefiting from the project funding, when they are not.
“Can you table evidence of how much in loans or grants women with disability have got with names of beneficiaries under the GROW project? Since the launch of the Project in March 2023 by President Yoweri Museveni, several leaders of Persons with Disabilities have requested project officials to present women with disabilities as beneficiaries of the programme, but none have been presented,” Ssewagudde stated.
Ssewagudde noted that persons with disability are tired of appearing in reports and data without seeing a visible impact on the ground. He called for transparent reporting, accountability, and evidence of inclusion.
He also called upon the coordinators of the GROW project to ensure that women with disability access to the funding to pave the way for their business development.
“Introducing affirmative action measures for women with disability will pave way for equal benefit from the GROW project and will improve women's livelihoods,” Ssewagudde noted, who has a hearing impairment.
Speaking through a sign language interpreter, Ssewagudde challenged the GROW Project National Project Coordinator, John Ssengendo, to stop reporting that women with disabilities are benefiting from the project funding, when they are not.
“Can you table evidence of how much in loans or grants women with disability have got with names of beneficiaries under the GROW project? Since the launch of the Project in March 2023 by President Yoweri Museveni, several leaders of Persons with Disabilities have requested project officials to present women with disabilities as beneficiaries of the programme, but none have been presented,” Ssewagudde stated.
Ssewagudde underscored the need to provide sign language interpreters for the deaf, ramps, and wheelchair-accessible sanitation facilities at training venues, adding that the lack of such services hinders women with disabilities from accessing business trainings.
Ssengendo speaks out
In response, Ssengendo said; The GROW project administration has held meetings with Honourable Ssewagudde and members of national and regional associations of persons with disabilities. We have signed agreements to invest in value addition, infrastructural projects of associations of persons with disabilities across the country and vocational centres of the gender ministry supporting them.”
He said 23 persons with disabilities have so far received GROW loans, adding that once beneficiaries payback on time, they receive incentives aimed at building their creditworthiness.
Ssengendo explained that the gender ministry has a mandate to promote social inclusion and that the GROW project is committed to social inclusion, including Persons with Disabilities. “We have a plan to include marginalised groups, including women with disabilities.”
During the business training, however, Ssengendo noted that beneficiaries are required to demonstrate that they run micro or small businesses.
Ssengendo speaks out
In response, Ssengendo said; The GROW project administration has held meetings with Honourable Ssewagudde and members of national and regional associations of persons with disabilities. We have signed agreements to invest in value addition, infrastructural projects of associations of persons with disabilities across the country and vocational centres of the gender ministry supporting them.”
He said 23 persons with disabilities have so far received GROW loans, adding that once beneficiaries payback on time, they receive incentives aimed at building their creditworthiness.
Ssengendo explained that the gender ministry has a mandate to promote social inclusion and that the GROW project is committed to social inclusion, including Persons with Disabilities. “We have a plan to include marginalised groups, including women with disabilities.”
During the business training, however, Ssengendo noted that beneficiaries are required to demonstrate that they run micro or small businesses.