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It has done this as part of the Interfaith Action for Gender and Economic Justice program being implemented in the area. The COU did this in partnership with with Danish Church Aid (DCA) and funding from DANIDA.
The COU introduced this program as a result of learning from the previous engagement that poverty is one of the root causes of gender based violence.
This is according to Ms Irene Anena the Church of Uganda Provincial Program Officer for gender and social justice.
“Church of Uganda has been implementing the gender justice program for the last three years and in this new phase, we thought economic empowerment is very critical because one of the root causes of GBV is poverty. Unless we tackle household poverty, the cases of Gender Basd Violence will remain high. This program is part of Church of Uganda’s efforts to reduce women and girls vulnerability to GBV” Ms Anena said.
The cash distribution exercise commenced yesterday in Kumi and Bukedea districts. It will see twelve VSLAs supported with seed capital of Ugx 1 Million per group.
The groups supported will use this money to invest in income generating activities.
Bishop Michael Okwii Esakan, the Bishop of Kumi Diocese tasked people benefiting to follow their business plans.
He said they need to ensure proper accountability and transparency. He further applauded members for being organized and addressing issues in their community creatively.
“When you are organised, you benefit more and develop together. Every person has the responsibility of ensuring that our communities become what we desire them to be. Now that Church of Uganda and Dan Church Aid have come to support you, invest wisely. I will be monitoring the program myself.” Bishop Esakahn said.
Ms Anena encouraged the beneficiaries to ensure that the money is put to good use. She also encouraged them to ensure collective responsibility of the selected enterprises.
She said this will inspire other communities to want to be like them.
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg)