By Spy Uganda
Kampala-Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC)-Central Government has raised concerns over the distribution of funds under the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, questioning whether the funds are reaching intended beneficiaries equitably.
Dr. Ruth Aisha Kasolo, the GROW Project Coordinator, and other wife to state minister for microfinance Hon.Kasolo Kyeyune Haruna, appeared before the committee, revealing that the government is engaging the World Bank to onboard Microfinance Deposit-Taking Institutions (MDIs) that will provide collateral-free loans to women entrepreneurs.
“The World Bank allocated Shs120 billion for a two-year period, and so far, Shs50.1 billion has been disbursed to participating financial institutions. Out of this, Shs43.9 billion has already been borrowed by women entrepreneurs,” Dr. Kasolo informed the legislators.
While acknowledging the initiative’s progress, Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the PAC chairperson, urged the project leadership to ensure equitable access to the funds across all regions of Uganda.
However, some legislators raised queries about the transparency and fairness of the fund’s distribution, demanding a clear accountability mechanism to prevent possible mismanagement.
The GROW project is a government initiative aimed at empowering women-led enterprises by easing access to finance and boosting productivity.
As the World Bank and Ugandan government continue to roll out the project, the demand for more transparency in fund allocation remains a key issue.
I also took women to Finance Trust Bank iganga branch and these group of women were promised heaven and earth and told to register and have accounts in the bank but since July 2024 nothing yet and when we call the headquarters they say the money is there and they are going to check with their supervisor
What really is going on especially for Busoga region it seems the project is for central and other areas not Busoga!!!