NWC Chairperson Kibowa Demands Increased Funding for District Women Councils

LCC TV NEWS

KAMPALA, Uganda – The National Women Council (NWC) Chairperson, Hajjat Faridah Kibowa, has called on the government to significantly increase institutional funding allocated to District Women Councils, arguing that the current disbursements are grossly insufficient to support economic empowerment programmes for women across the country.

Speaking against the backdrop of recent government disbursements, Kibowa expressed concern that inadequate funding undermines the government’s broader goal of lifting women out of poverty and achieving sustainable development.

The government, through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, recently commenced the second quarter disbursement of funds under the Institutional Support programme for Local Government Women Councils for the Financial Year 2025/2026, with a total annual allocation of Shs1.606 billion approved by Parliament . While this funding is intended to strengthen coordination and oversight roles of Women Councils at district and city levels, Kibowa contends that the amount falls far short of what is needed to drive meaningful change at the grassroots .

According to a circular dated January 28, 2026, from the Permanent Secretary, Aggrey Kibenge, the funds are meant to facilitate activities related to monitoring women's projects, mobilisation of women for increased uptake of government development programmes targeting women, and conducting training for Uganda Women Empowerment Programme (UWEP) beneficiaries and their leaders . However, the disbursement schedule shows that many districts receive modest allocations. For instance, Kampala District received Shs13.4 million with a second quarter release of Shs2.6 million, while Wakiso District was allocated Shs16.6 million and received Shs3.4 million for the quarter .

Kibowa’s concerns come as the government continues to roll out various women-focused initiatives, including the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), which has seen millions of shillings disbursed to women's groups across the country. In Kitgum District alone, ten women's groups recently received a total of UGX 60 million under UWEP to support income-generating ventures including hairdressing, catering, poultry keeping, vegetable growing, fishmongering, piggery, and goat rearing . Similarly, Soroti District recently approved eight women's groups to benefit from UGX 44.6 million under the same programme .

Despite these efforts, the NWC Chairperson argues that the District Women Councils, which serve as the crucial link between grassroots women and government programmes, lack the operational capacity to effectively monitor and support these initiatives due to insufficient institutional funding. Kibowa has previously emphasised the need to strengthen institutions so that women can contribute meaningfully to national development, and has called for greater digital inclusion to ensure women benefit from emerging opportunities .

The funding shortfall comes at a time when the government is also rolling out the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project, a World Bank-funded initiative designed to address structural barriers hindering the growth of women-owned businesses, including financial inclusion and access to business development services .

Kibowa has been a vocal advocate for women's empowerment and institutional strengthening. Earlier this year, she led women leaders at the 2026 Women's Convention in calling for greater digital inclusion, unity, and stronger institutions to advance the women's agenda in Uganda . She has also been at the forefront of advocating for peaceful elections, warning that women and children often bear the heaviest impact of election-related conflicts .

The NWC Chairperson’s appeal highlights a growing concern among women leaders that while government programmes targeting women exist, the institutional capacity to implement and monitor them effectively remains hampered by inadequate funding. She urged the government to prioritise increased allocations to District Women Councils to ensure that the goal of lifting women out of poverty is not compromised by resource constraints.

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