KAMPALA — Lands minister Judith Nabakooba has expressed concern over the increasing numbers of domestic violence cases, urging women to tap into government programs and start poverty alleviation projects.
Speaking at the belated Women’s Day celebrations at Busujju County headquarters in Mityana District, she encouraged women to form cooperative groups to create avenues for government lobbying.
“I urge women to work hard. Use the available resources to start up small income-generating projects such that you can also contribute towards the smooth running of your family activities,” Nabakooba said, encouraging men to always support their wives.
The government is implementing the Parish Development Model (PDM) program at the parish level, supporting low-income earners to get what to do. Women were given a 30 percent share in that program.
She also underscored the power of faith in a family, arguing that most criminalities are a result of poor raising of children. She noted that children raised in families that fear God, usually have good manners and turn out to be important to society.
Citing the increased Gender Based Violence caused by poverty and the failure of men to fulfill their responsibilities, the minister asked the public to instill good manners in their children.
“When we were growing up, it would be difficult to find an adult standing when a child is seated in a chair. Those are the manners we expect in children but nowadays parents are negligent,” she emphasised.
The minister was drawn to the attention that women in Busujju are pooling resources together to start up a vocational training school that will train boys and girls in different technical courses.
The head of Women and Children in Busujju, Ms Sarah Nanyunja, told the minister that they realised many youths were idle and needed something practical to do to get income to support their families.
“Our youth come from poor families and they may not afford to pay school fees in available training institutions. If we have this institute here, we can offer the skills for free,” she said, calling for government intervention to support the initiative.
The proposed institute intends to offer skills in tailoring, welding, plumbing, hairdressing, and carpentry among others. It will be constructed at the county headquarters to train youths in the community and beyond.
“I call upon the government and well-wishers in their respective capacities who have heard this outcry to provide us with the support needed to realise this project in Mityana,” she appealed.
Busujju County Chief, Israel Maaso Lubega, urged women to contribute to the development of Buganda Kingdom through socio-economic development projects.
He said Buganda needs financially stable women who can support the smooth running of the kingdom’s activities.
“Putting into respect for our culture, values, and norms, we also need to be hardworking because the world needs successful and well-established people,” Mr Lubega said.
After attending a belated women’s day function, minister Nabakooba also officiated in an annual general meeting for Mityana Women Maize Cooperative at Namungo Sub County headquarters.
During the meeting, she highlighted the importance of women groups, noting that they can save and start-up lending business to members to boost their businesses.
The cooperative engages in different projects including coffee growing, poultry, farm supply shop, savings and credit business among others.
Ms Alice Kimbowa, the chairperson of the cooperative, told the minister that they started this initiative in 2021 with the aim of uplifting living standards for members, asking the minister to lobby for them money from the government.
“We secured a registration certificate from the Ministry of cooperatives so we appeal now to the government for financial support because we see ourselves somewhere in the next five years,” she said.
