President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni have pledged significant support to the Teso Widows Development Initiative, promising funding, infrastructure, and financial guidance to transform the lives of widows and their families across the Teso region.

The pledge was made during a meeting at the President’s country home in Irenga, Ntungamo District, on Wednesday, 20th August, 2025.

The initiative, which serves 36,000 widows, focuses on improving livelihoods, providing skills training, and expanding access to education. President Museveni serves as its Patron.

During the meeting, members expressed deep gratitude for the government’s support.

“You have changed our name from the mothers of problems to mothers of blessings,” the widows said.

The widows presented a memorandum, signed by Director Beatrice Akurut Omese and submitted by Secretary Pauline Akello, requesting assistance to establish a technical institute that would equip children from disadvantaged backgrounds with essential skills.

President Museveni praised the proposal and pledged UGX 600 million to establish the institute, which will cover books, lab equipment, staff salaries, and running costs for the first two years.

“This is a very good effort, and I am happy to support it fully,” the President said.

To further strengthen the initiative, the President encouraged the group to develop a sustainable income strategy, such as forming a Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) to provide soft loans, pledging UGX 100 million once it is operational.

He also promised a pickup truck for the initiative and a bus for the institute to facilitate transport for members and students.

The First Lady emphasized the importance of cultivating a savings culture and self-reliance over borrowing.

“The problem we have is that we do not know how to save, and we often borrow to spend,” she said, highlighting how Bangladeshi women, despite limited literacy, built one of the largest banks in the world.

She urged the widows to regularly set aside part of their earnings to fund larger investments.

With combined support in funding, infrastructure, and financial empowerment, the Teso Widows Development Initiative is set to transform communities, enhancing education, livelihoods, and opportunities for widows and their families across the Teso region.