The government has been asked to prioritize empowering women as a crucial step toward transforming society.
Olive Lumonya, the Deputy Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority noted that the population dynamics in Uganda dictate that women, who constitute the majority, must be at the forefront of efforts to enact societal change since they play a pivotal role in family and community welfare.
According to the 2024 census conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, women account for 51% of Uganda’s 46.5 million population, surpassing men who make up 49%.
Lumonya, also the Chairperson of the Board at FINCA Uganda, was speaking at the unveiling of Janet Mudoola as FINCA Uganda’s new brand ambassador, a move aimed at supporting disadvantaged women entrepreneurs, whether operating on a small or large scale.
Lumonya noted that in many households, women are increasingly taking on responsibilities such as providing for their families, paying school fees, and building homes. She asserted that recognizing and supporting these efforts is essential for sustainable development.
Mudoola has a long-standing history with the institution. She was one of the first customers served by FINCA Uganda in Iganga in 1992 and was also the first executive of the Twegate Kimanto group, established that same year. This group became a cornerstone for village banking in Uganda.
Over the years, numerous efforts have been made to integrate women into small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as part of a broader strategy to involve them in sustainable development.
In 2016, the Government of Uganda launched the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) to empower women by improving their access to financial services, knowledge, and skills necessary for starting and managing businesses, adding value to products, and effectively marketing goods and services.
UWEP was specifically designed to address the challenges women face in establishing economically viable enterprises, including limited access to affordable credit, insufficient technical knowledge and skills for business development, and restricted access to markets and business opportunities.
Meanwhile, in a different development, Lumonya said that there is also a need to financially empower refugees to foster a peaceful coexistence between nationals and refugees. She explained that FINCA is focusing on refugee empowerment as a means of preventing conflicts that may arise from economic disparities.
FINCA Impact Finance CEO Jeff Flowers praised Janet Mudoola’s achievements and expressed optimism about FINCA Uganda’s ongoing efforts to combat poverty. “Janet’s story is proof that when given opportunity and resources, women will transform their lives and communities,” he said
Gov’t Urged to Empower Women to Transform Society
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