Inhebantu HRH Jovia Mutesi’s father, who is also known as the grandfather of Busoga, Mr. Stanley Bayole, is taking the lead in promoting the government’s GROW project in Tooro Kingdom.
Also serving as the Fort Portal Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Mr. Bayole is steadfastly executing his duties, with the GROW campaign being a key focus.
The Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project aims to integrate Ugandan women into the money economy by empowering them in various enterprises.
“Through this project, we aim to transform the lives of women in Tooro and Uganda at large, and to build a strong economic foundation for the region,” Bayole remarked on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, during a stakeholder conference at Nyaika Hotel in Fort Portal.
In his address, RCC Bayole emphasized the importance of empowering women in agriculture to boost household incomes and build a resilient agricultural community.
He rallied women across Fort Portal and surrounding communities to actively participate in the initiative, which aims to improve their financial independence.
“The government has repeatedly made efforts to empower citizens, but this [GROW] project specifically targets women in business,” he said.
The GROW project is part of a broader national strategy to uplift rural communities, with thousands of women expected to benefit and contribute to strengthening the region’s economic resilience.
This is a 5-year government of Uganda initiative, set to conclude in December 2027. It is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, covering all districts, municipalities, and cities.
According to the government, the project aims to increase access to entrepreneurial services that enable female entrepreneurs to grow their businesses from micro to small and from small to medium-sized enterprises, including in refugee districts.
Leaders and other stakeholders are therefore joining forces to drive the initiative, which focuses on promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing women’s economic opportunities across the country.
Meanwhile, the conference also aimed to train Tooro cultural and religious leaders on the GROW project. These leaders were equipped with the knowledge to encourage and support women entrepreneurs in the region.
Prime Minister Owek. Kyingi Stephen Amotti highlighted the alignment of the project with Tooro Kingdom’s sustainable development goals, stressing the critical role of partnerships with organizations like the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO).
“These partnerships will integrate advanced technologies and agro-tourism opportunities into the project, creating additional revenue streams for the community,” said Owek. Kyingi.
In Tooro Kingdom, the GROW project focuses on crop and livestock farming, providing women with vital resources, training, and support to ensure its effectiveness. It also emphasizes the importance of climate-resilient and high-yield techniques.
GROW is driven by four key components:
- Support for women’s empowerment and enterprise development services.
- Access to finance for women entrepreneurs.
- Enabling infrastructure and facilities for women’s enterprise growth and transition.
- Program management support, policy innovation, and evidence generation.
The latter component aims to strengthen the capacity of government institutions to deliver a coordinated, high-quality package of support to the targeted beneficiaries, as well as address policy constraints that impede women’s economic empowerment.
