Vice President Jessica Alupo presided over a groundbreaking and fundraising ceremony for the construction of a multi-purpose hall at Mackhill Girl’s School, where she contributed Shs25m towards the cause (PHOTO/Courtesy).
KANUNGU: The Vice President Maj (Rtd.) Jessica Alupo has called upon women in Kanungu district to embrace the ongoing Parish Development Model (PDM) aimed at delivering social economic transformation to all communities in Uganda.
She made the call during Kanungu district belated International Women’s day celebrations held under the theme; ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” in Western Uganda.
The Vice President also presided over a groundbreaking and fundraising ceremony for the construction of a multi-purpose hall at Mackhill Girl’s School, where she contributed Shs25m towards the cause.
The event was organised by Woman Member of Parliament Patience Kinshaba Ankunda together with the district leadership.
Alupo emphasized that whereas Uganda has achieved a lot in gender equality and women’s empowerment, the Parish Development Model is an additional game changer as it focuses on family enterprises for poverty eradication and is available to all parishes in Uganda.
“Like other Government initiatives and programs, women who constitute a big percentage of the population are at the center of the PDM,” She said.
She stressed that Shs 100 million will be available in each of the 10,475 parishes across the Country and 30 per cent of it has been earmarked for women- translating to Shs 30 million per parish per year for women.
The PDM has also been earmarked as an opportunity for women, youth and other interest groups to consolidate the gains so far achieved under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP); the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).
Alupo stressed that government through Ministry of Gender, labour and social development will endavour to extend grants to women across the country to address poverty eradication meaningfully.
The Vice President also appreciated the critical role that men play in the process of attaining gender equality and women’s empowerment.
She lauded President Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Movement leaders for supporting the President in his efforts to promote affirmative action.
“Women cannot work alone without men. When we work together we do better, faster and most importantly effectively,” Alupo said, further noting that Government will continue to implement all program like better access to education, better infrastructure, improved health services, clean water and sanitation facilities for all, as well as the means to create wealth within each household.
She under scored the fact that NRM Government has very clear footprints and strong foundation on promotion of special interest groups particularly women.
She added that government will continue to fastrack those efforts to ensure no woman is left behind.
She encouraged parents to ensure they take both girls and boys to school because education is free. She called upon RDCs and district leadership to ensure that no child doesn’t finish the education cycle because of charges in UPE and USE schools.
Alupo thanked President Museveni for ensuring that peace and security prevails across the country which has promoted the tourism industry not only in Kanungu district but countrywide.
She encouraged the people to get involved in commercial agriculture, ICT, manufacturing and industry, services to improve their livelihoods and also urged the people to involve themselves in the seven enterprises of Diary farming, Piggery, Fisheries, Fruit farming, Coffee and Food production as advised by the president.
The Vice President urged the people of Kanungu to protect the environment by planting trees.
ICT and National Guidance Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi-also area MP thanked Alupo for visiting Kanungu and for supporting development in the district. He urged women to unite and work together for development.
Woman member of Parliament Patience Ankunda lauded the Vice President for honouring her invitation to come to Kanungu district and supporting development ventures in her district. Ankunda asked all stakeholders to think about the future of the girl child.
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