Today, Hon. Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hajat Janat Mukwaya is monitoring Government-funded women and youth projects in Ntungamo district as part of her ongoing monitoring exercise in the Western region.
Here, she this morning visited a goat rearing project by Kyabashenyi Bacara Tukore women group funded under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
They got Shs5million and procured 26 goats in January this year. They have since grown in number to 55 goats and have expressed confidence to pay back before end of this year while sustaining the enterprise.
How UWEP works
Under UWEP, the highest amount that authorities at district and sub county level can endorse for allocation to a particular group is Shs12.5million, but projects requiring more up to Shs25million can still receive funding with the approval of officials from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
According to Frank Mugabi, the UWEP Communications Officer, the programme was designed along the same model as that of the Youth Livelihood Development Programme although with amendments in areas where key lessons have been documented.
He added that funding under the scheme is only available to women groups comprised of members within the age brackets of 18-65 years and each group is required to have between 10 and 15 members.
Distribution of funds is based on population of women, poverty levels and land area.
