Women encouraged to embrace Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) to improve their incomes for positive impact at house hold levels.

Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) was established in 2015 by the government of Uganda with an aim of providing a special fund to cater for women's business projects in order to improve their betterment and emancipation and to promote access to appropriate technologies for production and value addition among others. 

On 9^th August 2017 Miss Kobusinge Diana the Karambi Community Development Officer and UWEP leader Kabarole district was hosted live on ToroDev supported program to give light and educate citizens about Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP).

“Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) is a government initiative which aims at improving women’s access to financial services, equip them with the skills for enterprise growth and marketing of their products and services to help then raise income at household levels. Women are availed with interest free funds that can help strengthen their enterprise at household, village and sub county levels”. Said Kobusinge Diana UWEP leader Kabarole district.

Additionally the funds supports women aged from 18yrs-65 years who are low income earners with low, small and medium enterprise through giving group financial support that can help to boost their projects and generate more incomes to fight poverty at house levels. The funds are accessed through women groups ranging from 10 to 15 members especially focusing on unemployed women, single young mothers, widows and disabled.  

This program reaches to women from hard to reach areas at sub county level  to enable them  begin their own income generating activities and have to generate  more incomes. However the main challenges affecting UWEP in Kabarole district includes; mismanagement of funds, late funding and diverting funds from registered projects to other personal projects. 

I advise all women groups who received funds to work together to develop the registered projects. I further  recommend that sub county duty bearers, women sub county council, and village chairpersons should get involved in supervising and  monitoring these groups  if positive results are to be achieved by the women.  

During the 2 hours live discussion 35 people called in to contribute to the live radio discussion and these were some of their views; “What does it cost for someone to get UWEP funds”. Asked   Briton from Kijura Kabarole district during the radio talkshow.

“Does EWEP funds have interest rate, what does it take for women to qualify for these funds.  Asked Asuman from Rwimi Bunyangabu district.

"What is the duration of funding back the money? Asked Mugurusi Kanyambeho from Kabarole district. It’s important to note that these questions were fully addressed by the panelists during the radio talkshow. 

We take this opportunity to thank SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, and CIPESA for the financial and technical.

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