Rukungiri District has hosted a women leaders conference at the District Council Hall as part of the ongoing International Women’s Day celebrations.
Although the national event was officially marked on March 8 in Moroto, the district organised its own engagement to bring together women leaders, bank partners, and other stakeholders.
The conference provided a platform for women leaders to reflect on challenges affecting women and to share information on government empowerment programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and economic participation.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the District Women’s Council, Jolly Mashiija, said the district deliberately created the forum to ensure women are better informed about available opportunities and support mechanisms.
Participants discussed several government initiatives, including the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), the Youth Livelihood Programme, the Parish Development Model (PDM), and GROW Loans.
These programmes are designed to support women in starting and expanding businesses across both formal and informal sectors, with emphasis on affordable financing and accessible requirements.
The District Probation Officer, Jenipher Tumusiime, cautioned beneficiaries against misusing funds, noting that financial mismanagement has contributed to rising domestic tensions in some households.
“My office has registered a number of cases of domestic violence due to families failing to agree on how to use the funds,” Tumusiime said.
She urged women to ensure transparency and joint decision-making within households when utilising programme funds.
The Principal Community Development Officer, Charline Twesiime, reported that significant progress has been made under UWEP, with substantial funding already disbursed to women groups in the district.
“Under UWEP, more than 1 billion shillings has been given out to 1,963 women in 176 groups, helping to improve their livelihoods,” Twesiime said.
In his closing remarks, Rukungiri Deputy Resident District Commissioner Wilberforce Ongom urged women to access government funds responsibly and ensure accountability in their utilisation.
He reminded beneficiaries that the funds are loans that must be repaid and should be used strictly for income-generating activities.
He further encouraged transparency in accessing the programmes, stressing that proper use of funds would enhance both household welfare and broader community development.
