Govt allocates sh10b to boost women’s businesses in Lango

By Patrick Okino

The Government has allocated Sh10b under the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project to uplift women-led businesses in the Lango sub-region.

Launching GROW components of National Business skills training and job based placement at Coronation Park in Lira City recently, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi announced that the government had agreed to allocate the funds based on sub region.

The GROW project is a US$217 million (approximately Sh800 billion) initiative funded by the World Bank, with the goal of supporting and facilitating access to finance for women entrepreneurs to transition from micro enterprises to small and medium enterprises.

The project provides not only funding but also access to vital training in financial literacy, business management, and job placement services.

The project launhced in 2023 is targeting to benefit 280,000 women entrepreneurs and employees (including 42,000 refugees and 14,000 host community members).

A total of 1.6 Million people will benefit indirectly, including family members, communities, suppliers, service providers, and distributors of women enterprises products.

Minister Amongi said the initiative aims to improve the productivity and sustainability of enterprises owned by women across the country.

Minister Amongi Highlights Regional Allocation of Women’s Fund in Lango Sub-region

Minister Amongi has explained the recent concerns raised by women across the country regarding the distribution of financial support.

She stated that initially, a large portion of the funds was being absorbed in Central Uganda — particularly in Kampala, Mukono, and Masaka — leading to complaints from other regions.

“In the beginning, most of the money was being taken by women from Central Uganda. That’s why many women from other regions were complaining,” she said. “We sat down and agreed that the allocation must be based on sub-regions to ensure fair distribution.”

She announced that under the new arrangement, the Lango sub-region has been allocated a total of UGX 10.4 billion.

Looking ahead, she added: “Between now and the end of the project in 2027, we already have partners like Stanbic Bank, PostBank, among others, who will be responsible for lending this money to women across the country.

The Minister emphasized that the project is demand-driven, meaning that it is up to the women in each sub-region to apply for and utilize the funds.

“If the money allocated to a sub-region is not utilized, we will be forced to pick it and shift it to another sub-region that is more active,” she warned.

She appealed to women in Lango and across Uganda to take initiative:

“I encourage all women to be active, apply, and borrow the funds that have been allocated to their sub-regions. This is an opportunity for you to grow your businesses.”

Minister Amongi also highlighted key challenges women face in business, including lack of affordable capital and limited support from men.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these barriers through such empowerment programs, in partnership with financial institutions like Stanbic Bank and PostBank, who are already on board to lend the funds.

John Ssengendo, the Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, commended Minister Betty Amongi for her leadership, noting that she has been instrumental in advancing women’s economic empowerment in Uganda.

“We appreciate Minister Amongi for her visionary leadership. She has truly championed the cause of women’s economic empowerment through this ministry,” Ssengendo said.

He explained that the Government’s Response to Wealth (GROW) project was carefully designed to address several challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, including: Limited access to affordable financing, inadequate business and financial management skills and lack of access to common-user infrastructure.

We are ready to grow

Harriet Akao, a vendor at Lira Main Market, expressed optimism about the impact of the training on her business.

She said the skills she is acquiring will enhance her business operations, boost productivity, and help take her enterprise to the next level.

“After this training, I believe I will no longer struggle with running my business,” Harriet said. “I now aim to increase my profits so I can comfortably pay school fees for my children.”

Shila Acen, one of the beneficiaries of the GROW project, shared her experience as a produce trader, revealing that she had been running her business for years without any formal training.

“Since I started my produce business, I had never received any training,” Acen said. “Most of the time, we were just guessing — not knowing what to buy, when to buy, or when to sell. We simply relied on trial and error.”

She added that the business management training she received under the GROW project has significantly enhanced her thinking and reshaped how she runs her business.

“These skills have opened my eyes. I now think differently and approach my business more strategically.”

Acen encouraged other women to take advantage of the opportunity, emphasizing that training is just as important as financial support in ensuring the success and sustainability of their enterprises.