Inadequate funding crippling UWEP services- Beneficiaries

The inadequate funding of Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) has been cited as one of the major challenges hindering its services in the country.

Speaking the journalists who visited two women groups including Rwentobo organic fruit drying in Rugando sub county Rwampara County and Upper cell women poultry farmers in Nyamityoboora ward Mbarara district today, beneficiaries revealed that the groups are still struggling to fulfill their goals due to limited funds from government.

The chairperson of Rwentobo organic fruit drying Abigail Mwesigwa challenged the ministry of Gender, labor and social development to increase the funding if the poor rural women are to benefit across the country.

She also asked government to always create market for the local products saying that targeted women are unable to find market for their products regionally and internationally.

UWEP is a government program aimed at empowering Ugandan women to improve their income levels and their contribution to national economic development having started in 2015.

The program is targeting women between 18-65 years in groups of 10 to 15 members who are vulnerable, unemployed and self employed.

During a two day Western region media training on UWEP held at Igongo Cultural centre Biharwe Division Mbarara Municipality this week, the communications officer at the ministry of Gender Frank Mugabe noted that over Shs75.9 billionhas been disbursed to 8,247 women groups in three years in all districts of Uganda.

Mugabe said that in Western region the ministry has disbursed Shs9.7 billion benefiting 1,902 projects and 23,454 women reached.

However, he appealed to women groups to emphasize on the quality of products in order to attract local and regional market.

The focal personnel of UWEP Mbarara Municipality Turyamuhaki Peter commended government for considering the poor rural women where many of them have benefited not only themselves but also their communities.