President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has ordered a thorough investigation into an allegation that some women were made to pay bribery to benefit from the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project.
The World Bank-funded project worth US$217 million (Shs795.627 billion) aims to support women entrepreneurs, and it’s directly being implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development.
Museveni’s directive stemmed from several allegations of bribery and extortion from the would-be beneficiaries of the GROW project across the country.
He issued the directive on Wednesday, 19th March 2025, while addressing journalists from the Bunyoro subregion at Masindi State Lodge in Masindi district.The local journalists from the region are now part of many Ugandans who claimed they were made to pay money to benefit from GROW through Post Bank Uganda, but they weren’t given money.
One of the female journalists who attended the brief informed President Museveni that many women in the Bunyoro region were made to pay money (bribery) to GROW and Post Bank officials to benefit from the project but never got any funds.
The president also donated Shs100 million, a van, and a media tour to Bunyoro local journalists.
While in the Busoga subregion during one of the PDM rallies in Kamuli district, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Rebecca Kadaga, informed the president about the alleged mismanagement of the GROW project.
In the recent report, the Auditor General revealed that only US$18.14 million (Shs66.506 billion) of the US$22 million (Shs80.669 billion) earmarked for 2024 had been disbursed.
“By June 2024, you ought to have disbursed US$22 million, but only US$18.14 million was given out. The unabsorbed amount stands at US$3.2 million. Any explanation?” asked PAC Chairperson Muwanga Kivumbi.
Amuria Woman MP Susan Amero rejected this explanation, alleging that funds were being selectively distributed.
“From the start, how many districts have received this money? It looks like funds are staying at the center or going to those with connections. We want to see the money reach the intended beneficiaries,” she argued.
