On September 3, 2024, Mbale City Council officially launched the GROW program, a recent initiative by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kampala.
The event saw the participation of over 300 businesswomen from the city, who gathered to learn about the new program.
Annet Namwase, the Community Development Officer for Mbale City Council, emphasized that the purpose of the gathering was to educate these women on the GROW project.
The aim is for them to gain knowledge and understanding of the program so they can return to their communities and encourage other businesswomen to join.
Representatives from six banks in Mbale City—Centenary Bank, Equity Bank, Finance Trust Bank, Stanbic Bank, DFCU, and Post Bank—were invited to explain how they will collaborate with the women under the GROW project.
Namwase assured the women that the banks are committed to providing full loan amounts without any deductions. "If you apply for ten million, you will receive the full amount," she affirmed.
Namwase also reminded the women that the funds provided under the GROW program are meant strictly for business growth and not for personal expenses such as buying food, clothes, or paying school fees.
Mama Emyooga Ritah Namuwenge urged the banks to simplify the application process, noting that many businesswomen may not have advanced English language skills to apply in these banks.
She also called on the city councilors to mobilize more women to participate in the GROW project and encouraged women to seek assistance from community development officers (CDOs) if they have difficulty understanding the program.
Namuwenge emphasized that the GROW funds are non-partisan and available to women from all political backgrounds.
"This money is not political; it’s for all women across different parties. So, take advantage of it and grow your businesses," she urged the women.
Resident City Commissioner Asumin Nasike advised the banks not to create unnecessary hurdles for women applying for the GROW funds.
She encouraged women to seek out banks that offer good customer service and suggested that banks should set up dedicated desks for the GROW project to streamline the process.
She also asked the women to thank his excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for thinking about them and empowering them.
Finally madam RCC requested all the women of Mbale city to go to Mbale ss and welcome the president on 12th of September
The GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative aimed at addressing the needs of women entrepreneurs, helping them grow their businesses, sustain self-employment, and create more jobs.
Posts
.jpg)
0 Comments