MANIFESTO WEEK! Gender Records 70% UWEP Funds Recovery

The Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development has recorded 70% Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) funds.

According to the ministry, between 2016 and 2021, UWEP financed 13,822 projects worth Shs85.615Bnbenefiting 166,295 women. Out of this, Shs18.67Bn has been recovered out of Shs26.30Bn reflecting 70.81%.

While addressing the manifesto week on Wednesday at the OPM auditorium, State Minister for Gender, Peace Mutuuzo described the program as the most successful.

Her description followed a comparison to the Youth Livelihood Program which has registered 53% recovery yet it is an older program compared to UWEP which is just about 4 years old.

Mutuuzo says the majority of the women are engaged in Agriculture and wholesale and retail trade.

To this, there is direct and indirect employment created; domestic violence reduced; increase in household incomes; financial inclusion for women improved; confidence level amongst women improved; reduction of dependence syndrome; contribution to import substitution and export promotion is significant and that women are paying taxes among others.

+ 80,285 youth have been placed abroad. The majority have got employment in Saudi Arabia and UAE. Mutuuzo said mechanisms are being put in place to ensure orderly, safe and productive externalisation of labour.

+ The Uganda helpline (UCHL) has been upgraded to effectively handle and report violence against children and GBV. The centre receives an average of 700 calls daily.

+ 35 District Action Centres established. 6,505 cases of child abuse received 2,343 cases have been disposed off while 5,162 cases are on-going.

+ Trained 100 Probation Officers on alternative care, coordination networks and collaboration with other stakeholders as well as construction of Arua and Kabale Remand Homes while the ministry has rehabilitated Kampiringisa National Rehabilitation Centre, Naguru Remand Home, Naguru Reception Centre, Fort Portal Remand Home and Mbale Remand Home.

+ 750 Persons with Disabilities trained in the five institutions in vocational skills to enhance their employment opportunities and Shs8.00Bn disbursed to LGs for Special Grant for PWDs, CBR and National Council for Disability over the Manifesto period.

+ Rolled out SAGE programme in all districts benefitting 304,155 older persons of which 121,662 are Males and 182,493 Females. The ministry says National Council for Older Persons is fully operational with a substantive Executive Secretary.

+ Developed a framework and plans for the protection of child labor; Stakeholders consultation on draft Principles for review of the Employment Act 2006 (Child labour inclusive) conducted, provided livelihood support of families at the risk of or envisaged in child labour and conducted advocacy with the goal of strengthening national and local policies that education and protect children.

+ Sstrengthened the framework for labor unions and the workers to co-operate as partners with Government and employers for effective dialogue, Regulation for election of Worker’s representatives to District Councils developed and gazzeted, Developed Guidelines for election of workers’ representative in Parliament and 2,168 statutory equipment examined and certified.

Some of these achievements, however, come with challenges. These include; overwhelming demand for social services  across all districts amidst budgetary constraints and insufficient releases, Low technical capacity in some Local Governments (understaffing, inadequate facilities and funds, slow action), Inadequate funds to strengthen support systems at the LG level (for timely follow-up, trainings, mentoring, coaching etc…), Natural Calamities (droughts, disease outbreaks, floods.). Over 40% of the enterprises are in primary production in the Agriculture Sector which is very prone to natural hazards, Poor attitude of some sections of the population: Some youth lack positive work ethics, leading to abandonment of some good projects mid-way the implementation period, Strong attachment to negative cultural practices in the elimination of Gender Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation e.g in the Mount Elgon region, Inadequate Persons with Disability (PWD) training due to dilapidated centers of Ogur, Mbale Sheltered Workshop, Jinja Sheltered Workshop and Ocoko Rehabilitation Centre, Limited staff enforcement to carry out  OSH inspections throughout the whole country, Inadequate mechanisms of tracking illegal migrants and the phenomenon of human trafficking, Inadequate funding for community development functions to be able to initiate, monitor and supervise government programmes and to mobilise communities to fully appreciate, participate and partake of Government programmes and Inadequate enforcement of standards for visual and performing arts to produce marketable products among others.

In the next five years, the Ministry notes that it is going to contribute to the realization of the Manifesto in the following key areas; representation of the marginalized groups in decision-making at different levels, support the youth, women, PWD and elderly councils, continue with SAGE and consider lowering the age of beneficiaries from 80 years, fund the operations of the youth, women, PWDs and the elderly council; support vulnerable PWDs to enable them lead a dignified basic life, strengthen juvenile justice system and continue with the Youth Livelihood Programme Phase 2.