Story by Osuta Yusuf.
Terego District.
- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GROW PROJECT.
The Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project is a Government of Uganda Project, funded by the World Bank, implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda in all districts, Municipalities and Cities. It aims at increasing access to Entrepreneurial Services that enable female Entrepreneurs to grow their Enterprises from micro to small and small to medium in targeted locations, including the Refugee host districts.
Woman MP for Terego District, Hon Obigah Rose on Monday 17-3-2025 appealed to her women in the district to be patient over the issue of the Grow-Loan Project being implemented by the government of Uganda, after several women in Terego District have raised alarm over what they call, “TIGHT CONDITIONS” for accessing GROW Project money.
Concerns over the GROW loan scheme arose from complains of various women delivered by the Terego District LC5 Vice Chairperson Hon Ayikoru Sunday, was presented during the belated international women’s day celebration in Obiyu Primary school in Omugo Sub-county, Terego East Constituency in Terego District on Monday 17-3-2025.
“How can you put conditions such as; Land title, at least 4m shs should be in Applicant’s bank account and 2 Guarantors with at least 4m Shs each in their bank account?” Hon Ayikoru Sunday asked as she wondered how a rural woman with nothing can be able to get 4m Sus to be deposited into their bank accounts if she is to borrow a loan of 8M shs from the GROW loan Project.
In her response, the Terego District Woman MP Hon Obigah Rose has urged the women in her district to be patient as she is yet to engage Government furthermore over the GROW project loan.
Whereas the law on succession allows women to own or inherit land from their parents in any part of Uganda, the cultural aspect has still been a barrier, leaving many women unable to inherit customary land which they can process the titles in order to access other benefits like loan and so on.
“Days ago we went to Parliament to challenge one of the conditions for GROW Project loan which requires an applicant (woman) to present a land title and that condition has been removed because most of our rural women do not have customary lands with title ”, Hon Obigah stated as she promises to go back to engage government to ensure that, other tight conditions for the GROW loan scheme are loosened to allow women regardless of status or location to access the funds to forster development.