Women in Jinja City are being encouraged to seize government-backed financing opportunities as a path toward stronger livelihoods and financial independence. The call came during an induction and council sitting of the Jinja City Women Council, held on Tuesday at the Southern Division headquarters.
Angela Baligeya, the senior development officer for Southern Division, told a large gathering that many women are failing to claim support that was designed with them in mind. She stressed that the available programmes, including the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) and Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW), offer practical routes to funding income-generating projects.
How the Funds Work
According to Baligeya, women between the ages of 18 and 60 can access UWEP loans by organizing themselves into groups of five. The GROW initiative, meanwhile, targets women who already have some start-up capital and can approach partner banks to finance their enterprises.
She cautioned against overlooking these opportunities, noting that women should not underestimate their own potential or let financial support slip away simply because they are unaware of the procedures involved.
- UWEP loans are open to women aged 18 to 60 who form organized groups of five.
- GROW funds are available through partner banks for women with start-up capital.
- Both programmes are intended to support income-generating activities and enterprise growth.
The meeting brought together women leaders and community members, with the induction session aimed at equipping the city's women council with the knowledge needed to guide others toward these resources. Organizers hope that raising awareness at the grassroots level will translate into more applications and, ultimately, more thriving small businesses run by women.
For many women in Jinja, the message was clear: the support exists, and the first step is to organize, apply, and put it to work.
