Buganda Kingdom leaders have pledged to support women across the kingdom to establish businesses and access affordable financing under the government’s GROW project.
The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, launched the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises project in Butambala district on July 15.
Speaking at Kibibi sub-county headquarters, Mayiga urged women to engage in income-generating activities to improve their livelihoods and strengthen the financial position of their families.
He said Buganda Kingdom had observed that households in which women participated in economic activities were more likely to register progress.
Mayiga said the kingdom’s leadership had also used the Emmwanyi Terimba coffee campaign to encourage men to give women opportunities to own and manage productive assets.
“During our coffee promotion tours in the Emmwanyi Terimba campaign in the kingdom, I found out that men do not give women opportunities to start or own their enterprises,” Mayiga said.
“That’s why I started ordering men to give women part of their coffee plantations. Women can look after enterprises and grow them when given a chance.”
Under the initiative, women entrepreneurs will access GROW project loans and other business support through CBS Pewosa savings and credit cooperative societies.
Mayiga praised the project for providing financing at interest rates below those commonly charged by commercial banks.
He urged women to join CBS Pewosa SACCOS to become eligible for the loans and related business support.
“Join CBS Pewosa SACCOS to access this money at a low interest rate of about 10% per annum, and when you pay back well, the rates can drop to as low as 5%. This is far below what commercial banks charge,” Mayiga said.
The $217m—about sh800b—GROW project is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development together with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda.
The programme supports women-owned enterprises through affordable financing, entrepreneurship training, mentorship and other business development services.
Private Sector Foundation Uganda GROW project coordinator Dr Ruth Kasolo commended Buganda Kingdom for mobilising women and supporting the implementation of the programme.
Kasolo said the programme was open to women regardless of their political or religious affiliation.
“It does not look for women in NRM or NUP colours, Christians or Muslims; it embraces all women,” Kasolo said.
“And this money we have launched today is for women in Buganda. When you perform well, more will be added.”
Gender ministry Permanent Secretary Aggrey Kibenge was represented at the event by GROW coordinator John Ssengendo.
In a speech delivered by Ssengendo, Kibenge said development programmes should deliberately involve communities in Buganda because of the region’s major contribution to Uganda’s economy.
“Recently, we made an analysis and found out that of the money collected by agencies such as NSSF and others, 80% comes from the Kampala Metropolitan Area,” the speech said.
“So, when you undertake development initiatives and the people here in Buganda do not get involved, you look like you have neglected them.”
Kawooya Mwebe, the board chairperson of Kyadondo Pewosa SACCOS, said the organisation had been selected to participate in the programme because of its record in managing community financing initiatives.
Buganda’s minister for agriculture, animal husbandry, cooperatives and trade, Amisi Kakomo, asked Pewosa officials to ensure that eligible women receive the money without unnecessary delays.
The GROW project began in 2023 and is scheduled to run until December 2027.