WEST NILE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS YET TO BENEFIT FROM GROW PROJECT
By Sabir Musa
Arua
Women entrepreneurs in West Nile are yet to benefit from World Bank funded Growth Opportunities and Productivity (GROW) project, 7-months after it was rollout in the region last year by Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
The 5-years GROW project worth 217 million US Dollars (an estimate of 737.8 billion shillings) is funded by World Bank through International Development Association, but no one has been financed in the region by time of compiling this report.
Although one of the targeted beneficiaries, Alice Oriba, has met all requirements including registration of business with Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and completing application form, she is still waiting for feedback since last year. “I see that I have passed all the criteria but we have not been considered for anything so the challenge is them (ministry) reaching to us on the ground” she said.
Another entrepreneur from the region, Sylvia Akankwasa who has operated in Arua for about 15-years now express disappointment over poor communication by the contact persons which has hinders access to information.
According to Nebbi District Chairperson, Emmanuel Orombi, the ministry needs to be reminded for entrepreneurs in the region to benefit. He confirms that his office has not approved any one for the project stating that the district has not benefited. “So far, Nebbi has not benefited and it stopped with the launch. Any other thing, even those things we said need technical explanation and support are not done upto date” he revealed.
However, Obongi District Woman MP, Zumura Maneno, acknowledges that many projects face financial challenges as funds most times delay to be released, but hope that leaders will make follow-up. “Meaning that we as leaders need to go and crosscheck from the ministry what the problem is, also Ministry of Finance and check because the money was approved in parliament” she stated.
The GROW project targets to benefit an estimated 1.6 million people in 135 districts and 11 cities, including refugees.
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