First Lady gets UN Habitat award

Mar 24, 2010

THE First Lady, Janet Museveni, has been awarded a Scroll of Honour by the United Nations Habitat (UN Habitat) for her achievements in community settlement through the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO).

By Vision Reporter

THE First Lady, Janet Museveni, has been awarded a Scroll of Honour by the United Nations Habitat (UN Habitat) for her achievements in community settlement through the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO).

Receiving the award from the UN Habitat executive director, Anna Tibaijuka, at State House Entebbe last week, Mrs. Museveni thanked the organisation for recognising the effort of Ugandan women in caring for orphans and destitute children.

“UWESO started with a few women who had a conviction to do something about the plight of the needy civil war orphans. They did not wait for foreign support. They did not care whether they were recognised or not,” she said.

The first lady was happy that after more than 20 years of service, somebody had appreciated their efforts.

Tibaijuka said the award was meant to appreciate Mrs. Museveni’s visionary achievement as she lead women through UWESO and her contribution to community settlements, which is in line with UN Habitat goals. Three years ago, UN Habitat gave UWESO sh180m to boost their activities countrywide.

Ambassador Agnes Kalibbala said UWESO used the grant to build ferro-cement tanks of 10,000-litre capacity each for 60 under-privileged families taking care of orphans. They benefited 450 members.

UWESO had also trained 1,000 beneficiaries in income generating activities and in village savings and loan skills, 716 of whom were female. A total of 70 others, including 25 women, have also been trained in artisan skills.

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