Women in Dewe Village Praise Wakiso District Chairperson for Skills Training Initiative

Dewe Village, Kajjansi – A group of women from Dewe Village in Bweya Parish, Kajjansi Town Council, Wakiso District, have expressed gratitude to District Chairperson Dr. Matia Lwanga Bwanika for initiating a skills development program that has empowered them to start income-generating activities.  

The training, organised by the district government, came as a relief to the women who had previously struggled to make ends meet. Many revealed that their livelihoods had been severely affected after being restricted from accessing Lake Victoria waters following a government security directive.  

Elizabeth Nakuya, a female councilor representing Kajjansi Town Council, commended the initiative, stating that such government programs create meaningful opportunities for women in rural communities.  

Dr. Bwanika explained that the training equipped participants with various skills, including basket weaving, mat making, and crafts using papyrus reeds. The program aims to provide alternative sources of income for women who lost their traditional fishing-related jobs due to security measures on the lake.  

Margaret Ssempala, the lead trainer, emphasised that the acquired skills could significantly improve the women's living standards if properly utilised. "These skills have the potential to lift these women out of poverty if they apply them diligently," Ssempala noted.  

In his remarks, Dr. Bwanika urged the beneficiaries to avoid politicising the initiative and instead focus on implementing what they learned. He encouraged them to form cooperative groups to enhance their collective bargaining power and access to markets.  

The chairperson also appealed to various women's empowerment organisations to support the trainees in commercialising their products, which could further boost their economic prospects.