In Summary: During an assessment in Kamuli, local leaders also criticised the GROW programme, accusing participating banks of imposing restrictive conditions and promoting their own financial products instead of helping women-owned enterprises grow.
Kamuli, Uganda — The Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development has called on district authorities to ensure that government livelihood and empowerment programmes are accessible to intended beneficiaries without unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, favouritism or corruption.
The committee said programmes such as the National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities, Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE), Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW), Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) and Parish Development Model (PDM) were established to improve household incomes, reduce poverty and economically empower vulnerable communities.
The legislators urged district officials to strengthen community sensitisation, provide accurate information about the programmes and ensure eligible beneficiaries can access funds without being subjected to conditions that undermine their intended purpose.
The committee made the remarks during an assessment visit to Kamuli District and Municipal Council to evaluate the implementation, performance and impact of funds disbursed by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Maria Goretti Ajilo Elogu, representing committee chairperson Laura Kanushu, said although reports presented on the programmes often highlighted positive achievements, low loan repayment levels pointed to underlying challenges requiring attention.
She noted that the programmes had contributed to improving the livelihoods of women, young people and other vulnerable groups through income-generating activities, self-employment and increased participation in economic activities.
“These programs are meant to alleviate poverty, cause social and economic transformation and empower the citizens not a privilege of the officials so ensure public is well mobilized, enabled to access the funds,” she said.
Kamuli District Council Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala raised concerns over the implementation of the GROW programme, accusing participating financial institutions of making it difficult for women entrepreneurs to access and benefit from the funding.
Dhizaala said some banks were allegedly withholding information about the programme while directing women towards alternative financial products offered by the institutions. He argued that the conditions and bureaucratic processes imposed on beneficiaries were undermining the programme’s objective of helping women-owned businesses expand.
“We are in an era where accountability and transparency is high on demand but the truth is that the Grow program has failed to grow and benefit local women because of bureaucracy and stringent conditions therein and needs overhaul, streamlining and tailored to benefit the women,” Dhizaala said.
The Chairperson called for reforms to make the programme more accessible and responsive to the financial circumstances of women entrepreneurs, particularly those operating small businesses in rural communities.
The concerns raised by Kamuli leaders placed the role of participating financial institutions under scrutiny, with calls for greater transparency in communicating programme requirements, loan conditions and available funding.
Officials cite implementation challenges
Kamuli District Community Development Officer Leo Merewoma said several government livelihood programmes were well-intentioned but continued to face implementation challenges that affected their performance.
He identified inadequate funding, delayed disbursement of resources, limited operational capacity, weak community mobilisation and insufficient monitoring as some of the factors undermining programme delivery.
“These programs are well intentioned but are hindered by inadequate, delayed disbursement of funds, limited operational resources, weak group mobilization and insufficient monitoring,” Merewoma said.
Kamuli Municipal Community Development Officer Eric Kantale added that low repayment rates were also linked to unstable markets and fluctuating prices, poor record-keeping practices, leadership conflicts within beneficiary groups and frequent relocation of members.
He said disagreements over the management and utilisation of funds had also affected the ability of some groups to meet their repayment obligations.
The stakeholders called on government to increase funding, strengthen community mobilisation and invest in capacity-building, monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure the programmes achieve their intended objectives.
The committee’s assessment in Kamuli comes amid continued efforts to use government livelihood interventions to improve household incomes, expand economic opportunities for women and young people, and support vulnerable groups.
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