Tayari News | Justine Nyakaisiki
FORT PORTAL- The State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Mary Kamuli Kuteesa, has called for increased efforts to economically empower women, saying social and cultural norms continue to hinder their participation in economic development.
The minister made the remarks on Tuesday 13th October 2026 while presiding over a training workshop for leaders from the Tooro, Rwenzori and Bunyoro sub-regions at Nyaika Hotel in Fort Portal City. The workshop brought together Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), local government leaders and other stakeholders under the GROW Project.
Kamuli noted that despite women constituting a significant proportion of Uganda’s population, many continue to face barriers to economic empowerment due to deeply rooted social and cultural norms.
The minister also highlighted limited access to land as one of the major challenges affecting women’s economic advancement. She noted that only a small proportion of women in Uganda own land, limiting their ability to engage in productive economic activities and access opportunities that require land as collateral.
Kamuli urged women to participate in economic projects and venture into businesses and activities traditionally dominated by men, saying this would help improve their livelihoods and financial independence.
She further highlighted a new government funding initiative under the GROW Project, known as the Business Plan Competition Grants, which is intended to support women entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses.
Freda Amuron, a Refugee Specialist under the GROW Project at the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development, said women from marginalized communities and underserved areas would also benefit from the new funding initiative.
Meanwhile, Fort Portal City Deputy Mayor Margret Kabajwara appealed to the ministry to involve the local governments in implementation and monitoring exercises of the project highlighting the denial to access information from Banks about available financial opportunities so that more women can benefit.
The Business Plan Competition Grants project is expected to run for a period of nine to twelve months, with the program scheduled to close in June 2027.