Members of Parliament sitting on the Public Accounts Committee have grilled officials from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development—led by Permanent Secretary Aggrey Kibenge—over the exclusion of eligible women from accessing funds under the GROW Project meant to support their businesses.
While meeting ministry officials to discuss the status of implementation and accountability of GROW Project interventions, committee members expressed concern that many women across the country have been left out.
They noted that project implementers are focusing more on awarding business grant competitions for already established women-owned enterprises, rather than providing loans to women who are running smaller or emerging businesses.
Committee Chairperson and Butambala County MP, Muwanga Kivumbi, along with Elgon County MP Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, stressed that the GROW Project funds should benefit women entrepreneurs across all regions of the country—not just those in and around Kampala.
Amuria District Woman MP, Susan Amero, voiced frustration, saying it is disheartening for leaders in various districts to mobilize women for these funds, only for the beneficiaries never to see the money—contrary to what is being portrayed by the project implementers.
In response, Permanent Secretary Aggrey Kibenge clarified that the project is partially implemented by the Private Sector Foundation, and the funds are intended to be accessed through select commercial banks within communities, enabling eligible businesses to benefit.
He added that the ministry is working to implement a Cabinet recommendation to allow women in remote areas—where banks are unavailable—to access the funds through microfinance institutions and SACCOs.
Kibenge also informed the committee that while the demand from businesswomen is high, the currently available GROW Project funds (UGX 50 billion) are still limited. However, they expect an increase in funding from the World Bank, which would raise the amount to UGX 120 billion, as previously agreed.
