Over 700 women from Rujumbura County in Rukungiri district yesterday Tuesday received training in business growth skills, empowering them to boost their entrepreneurial ventures and achieve economic stability.
The women were skilled under Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW), an initiative of the Government of Uganda that is implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development in partnership with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) with funding from the World Bank.
This is in response to a request for training made by the Member of Parliament for Rujumbura County, who doubles as the minister of security, so that women in his constituency can acquire the know-how and abilities to grow their businesses.
The second area in Western Region to receive this kind of training from Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) is Rujumbura County.
The GROW project was created to support women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses, maintain self-employment, and create more jobs.
It also provides free entrepreneurship training, start-up tools, access to credit with interest rates below 10%, assistance in obtaining UNBS certification for products, and market access for women beneficiaries.
Dr. Ruth Biyinzika Kasoro the Executive Director Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) said the project aims to enhance access to entrepreneurial services for female entrepreneurs, helping them grow their enterprises.
Dr. Ruth added that since the project was launched last year on International Women’s Day, they are touching lives and impacting businesses of women all over the country.
She added that they are committed and guaranteed to support all the women in registering their businesses with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau.
In order to increase their income, people should adopt a more positive mind-set and embrace government projects, according to Hon. Maj. Gen. Jim Katugugu Muhwezi, the Minister of Security and Rujumbura County area member of Parliament.
Minister Muhwezi also encouraged people to take risks and borrow money to start their own businesses, as this will increase their earnings.
Finally, he urged people to express gratitude to the NRM government for providing funding to them, as opposed to previous governments that preferred to take money from them.
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The Rukungiri district Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Midius Natukunda Kaharata, praised the NRM government, led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for considering how to help women grow their businesses and increase household income through provision of such projects.
Hon. Natukunda made it clear that this program differs from the Parish Development Model (PDM), which is intended for women without any income, while GROW is intended for women who have already started some businesses.
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The Rukungiri district chairperson of LC5, Mr. Geoffrey Kyomukama, urged the attendees to put what they had learned into practice and share it with others for the betterment of their local communities.
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The Rukungiri district Women’s League chairperson, Mrs. Jolly Mashaija, praised the Ugandan government for launching various programs, such as UWEP, Youth Livelihood Funds, Emyooga, and PDM, among others, which aim to assist women in escaping poverty.
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