Women entrepreneurs' project launched in Karamoja

________________

Women entrepreneurs from the Karamoja sub-region have commended the government for contributing to their empowerment.

They say the economic intervention contributes significantly towards their well-being and families.

Speaking at the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project launch held at Hotel Africana in Moroto town on Wednesday (June 19), Deputy Mayor Moroto Municipality Mary Nachap said the initiative will foster growth amongst women entrepreneurs.

She urged women to ensure unity in their families saying she does not want to hear divorce or separation because of the government's economic empowerment.

Ministers Rose Lily Akello and Esther Anyakun and (in the middle) Commissioner at the gender ministry Fred Ngabirano during the launch. (Photo by Olandason Wanyama)

Anna Namiti, the movement community mobilizer Karita sub-county in Amudat district said the GROW project will stabilize most families.

“Most families are engulfed in violence due to poverty,” she stated, adding that women have businesses but lack capital to support their entrepreneurship.

Namiti congratulated the government for the efforts that have led to women emancipation adding that the GROW fund for women is miraculous.

‘Impactful initiative’

Presiding over the launch, Esther Davina Anyakun, the state minister for labour, industrial relations and productivity thanked the government for spearheading the impactful initiative.

She added that the women entrepreneur empowerment aims at fostering the growth of the already existing women enterprises, identifying Emyooga, the parish development model among other programs in the country.

“Today’s event marks an important step in raising awareness among women entrepreneurs,” Anyakun said.

On behalf of the government, the minister conveyed gratitude to the World Bank for the grant of a non –extendable fund that will be used to implement the GROW project in the next five years.

“The World Bank is a good partner to the government,” she noted, adding that the government will ensure full commitment towards ensuring value for the fund.

Anyakun said the project was timely for Karamoja and the entire country offering impressive services for female shared enterprises.

“I am happy the project specifically focuses on enabling the female-owned enterprises to transition to the next level of the business cycle,” she stated.

Anyakun also said that the government will continue to implement programs that transform women among other vulnerable groups saying working together as a team, “we shall attain the 2040 vision of a transformed Ugandan society from a peasantry to a modern and a prosperous country.

She implored the women entrepreneurs to be good ambassadors of the project.

State minister for ethics and integrity Rose Lily Akello who accompanied Anyakun asked the women to ensure they mind their empowerment saying in the next few months good and successful stories needed to be seen.

“We need to see women uplifted in the country,” she noted, adding that there is a need to seed milk processors or coffee in Karamoja as the grant expires in 2027.

Akello asked women to embrace peace across the sub-region.

However, the Labwor Member of Parliament, Abim district, Jimmy Blick Ochero, said the business does not require someone to go to school.

A section of Karimojong business women attending the GROW project launch at Hotel Africana in Moroto. (Photo by Olandason Wanyama)

He said the GROW project was well designed saying poverty has been the stubbornest thing in Karamoja.

GROW project

The government of Uganda was allocated a grant fund by the World Bank towards the implementation of Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women enterprises-GROW project. It was approved in May 2022 and became effective on Jan. 20, 2023.

The gender ministry is the lead agency, with the private sector foundation as an implementing entity. It has four components; women empowerment and enterprise development services, access to finance for women entrepreneurs, enabling infrastructure and facilities for women enterprise growth, transition programme management, policy innovation and evidence generation.