PWDs Urged to Embrace Wealth Creation Programs

 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have been implored to access wealth creation funds to improve their livelihoods. 

The Minister of State for Disability Affairs, Hellen Grace Asamo, noted that special quotas have been created within the different fund facilities to ensure that persons with challenges are specifically provided for during the allocation of resources. 

“We have resources set aside notably for persons with disabilities under Emyooga, Parish Development Model, and now the National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities. We should go out, get the money and utilize it to improve our welfare,” the minister said.

She was speaking during the belated commemoration of the Day of Persons with Disabilities in Busia district on Wednesday, February 1.

The Minister hinted that under the National Special Grant, PWDs form groups of five members and they are able to access a grant of Shs5 million for entrepreneurship. 

“This is valuable money to start many types of businesses. We want to see change within recipients based on how well they have utilised the funds,” Asamo emphasised.

At the same event, 31 groups of persons with disabilities within Busia district and Municipality received a total of UGX 153 million under the Special Grant. The District had 29 groups and two were located within the Municipality. 

The groups applied for the funds to undertake enterprises in fields of carpentry and joinery, goat rearing, animal traction, cattle rearing, piggery, poultry, produce buying and selling and events management (incorporating tents, chairs, and catering equipment). 

In terms of beneficiaries, there are 224 for the district alone, 111 of them being male and  133 female. Meanwhile, there are 25 beneficiaries within the Municipality, 14 male and 11 female. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is marked on December 3rd and the national celebrations were held in Kole district.