RUBANDA LEADERS WANT UWEP INCREASED

By Kevin Tuheirwe
www.mknewslink.com
In Rubanda
Leaders in the Sub counties of Rubanda District are requesting government to increase the Uganda Women Empowerment Fund, if it is to perform its purpose of improving the wellbeing of women at local level.
This was revealed today during the sensitization meeting by the officials from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, to local leaders including the Sub county chairperson, Sub County Chiefs, LC5 Councilors and chairpersons of Women groups, at Rubanda Sub County head quarters Rukiiko hall, which was organized by the Rubanda District Woman Member of parliament Hon Prosy Akampurira Begumisa.
The Bubaare Sub county Chief Reuben Tumwesigye, the District Councilor representing Ruhija Sub County Nevaline Tusasirwe, the Rubanda town Council Chairperson Norman Tushabe, the Woman Councilor Representing Nyamweru Sub County Sandra Kyomukama, among others said that Women groups are always given little funds were they are sometimes given a half of what they request to run their projects or less.
Ruhasya Bakyaara Kweterana from Bubaare Sub County requested 8 million but it was given only 4 million shillings which they say that was little to run their potato growing project. Leaders say that there are other women groups where you find each has 10 members but, they are given 3 million shillings which is almost spent on transport expenses while moving to town to withdraw it.
The Rubanda district Community Development Officer Tophiri Sabiiti also said that in this financial 2018/19, out of 780 million shillings which they requested to benefit over 120 groups, they are going to receive only 161 million shillings which is very little.
The projects manager of Women Empowerment program in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, William Tumwine admitted the challenge saying that it is a problem that is affecting the project, he however tasked the District leadership to submit a report to UWEP headquarters to help in tasking the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) to increase the funds.
The Rubanda district Woman Member of Parliament Hon Prosy Akampurira Begumisa said that she lobbied the sensitization meeting after finding that women in the district were ignorant about the project. She added that she will follow the matter until the money is increased.
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