The State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Balaam Baruhagare, has urged women in the Bunyoro region to use the Generating Growth Opportunity and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW project) wisely. He advised them not to let their husbands borrow money from the project for personal gain but to embrace its full potential for improving their businesses.
The GROW project is a government initiative designed to support women who want to expand their businesses. Minister Baruhagare spoke to women leaders during the launch of the High-Level Dialogue on Childcare and Women Entrepreneurship Conference in Hoima City, with Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, present.
During his speech, he expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its continuous support in empowering women entrepreneurs through the GROW project. He emphasized the importance of responsible use of the funds available for women’s businesses.
“If someone asks you for money from this project, I urge all Banyoro, including traditional leaders, kingdom officials, and religious leaders, to report this to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) or the Mayor. This is taxpayer money, and you should not pay for it,” said Baruhagare.
In addition, Hon. Balaam Baruhagare warned parents against marrying off their teenage daughters, highlighting that this is a crime under Ugandan law. He urged parents to think carefully about child marriage, noting it often results in lifelong difficulties, such as limited education opportunities and health risks. He encouraged them to prioritize education, urging parents to support their daughters in completing their studies through the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programs.
Minister Baruhagare’s comments stress the importance of empowering women and ensuring they have the opportunity to succeed in their businesses and education.
