Officials handling the GROW project led by Dr. Ruth Aisha Kasolo, Project Coordinator, appearing before PAC
MPs have expressed concerns over the low disbursement and absorption levels for the GROW project after the Auditor General reported that of the US$22M (Shs80.669Bn) earmarked for disbursement in 2024, only US$18.14Million (Shs66.506Bn was disbursed to women entrepreneurs, even when many of them grappled with search for cheaper capital to finance their businesses.
The MPs expressed their concerns during a meeting held between the Public Accounts Committee and officials of Ministry of Finance, during the scrutiny of the US$217Million (Shs795.627Bn) World Bank funded project.
“The audit is that by June 2024, you ought to have had cumulative disbursement of US$22M (Shs80.669Bn) but by time of audit, only US$18.14Million (Shs66.506) had been disbursed and unabsorbed was US$3.2Million (Shs11.733Bn). the Auditor says you have low absorption to a tune of US$3.2Million, any explanation?” asked Muwanga Kivumbi, Chairperson Public Accounts Committee.
Dr. Ruth Aisha Kasolo, Project Coordinator, The Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, acknowledged the concerns raised by the Auditor General, but she attributed the low performance on the slow progress of the activities at the project inception stage.
She noted, “We do note the concern of the Auditors, but the under disbursement was because the project was in its initial stages of implementation and all activities commenced this financial year. We are basically working on the designs, especially for the loans and when you look at this financial year, we have gone ahead to actualize these disbursements in the current financial year.”
However, her response was rejected by Susan Amero (Amuria DWR) who cited discriminatory tendencies in the disbursement of GROW funds, where she alleged that the funds are targeting districts with top shots in Government, like the case is Lira City, home to the current Minister of Gender, Betty Amongi, yet the same Ministry was allocated the largest chunk of funds for the GROW project.
“I am surprised when Dr. Ruth says it was because some training was going on. If this money isn’t disbursed, because from the onset, how many districts have received this money? Because it looks like this money has been kept in the centre. As I talk now, this money seems to go to those who have connections. When you go to districts in Northern Uganda, you will find a lot of money being spent in Lira City. We want to see this money going to the people it is meant for. Where is this money?” remarked Amero.
Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) described Kasolo’s response as redundant wondering why women were invited to attend several meetings only to not receive the said funds.
He noted, “When these people invited women in our districts, so many of them attended and they attended so many meetings so where there is under disbursement and the response is that Management acknowledges the concern and committed to ensure that funds are disbursed and absorbed as per project agreement, is redundant and doesn’t satisfy our query.”
