Rukungiri District Struggles to Recover UGX 494 Million in UWEP Funds

Rukungiri: More than 1,963 beneficiaries aged between 18 and 79 years in Rukungiri District have received loans under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), but district authorities are concerned about the low rate of loan repayment.

According to the Principal Community Development Officer for Rukungiri District, Charlene Twesiime, over UGX 494 million disbursed to beneficiaries under the programme has not yet been recovered.

Speaking during an interview on May 4, at the Rukungiri District Headquarters, Twesiime explained that UWEP was introduced by the government in 2016 to support women through income-generating projects. She emphasized that the money given to beneficiaries is a loan and not a grant, therefore it must be repaid.

Twesiime revealed that a total of UGX 1.173 billion has so far been disbursed to 176 women groups across the district. However, only UGX 679 million has been recovered, leaving an outstanding balance of more than UGX 494 million.

She noted that many women have benefited from the programme, but some beneficiaries appear to have no clear plans for repaying the money.

Twesiime said the district has now intensified efforts to trace and follow up defaulters in order to recover the outstanding funds. She stressed that the money is revolving in nature and is intended to help other women groups benefit from the programme in the future.