BUHWEJU, UGANDA — Women in Buhweju District have appealed to Parliament and local leaders to intervene over alleged interference, intimidation and exploitation by some district staff involved in the management of government wealth-creation programmes.
The appeal was made during a community engagement in Nsiika on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following a field visit by the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development led by its Chairperson Hon. Kanusu, together with the Woman Member of Parliament for Buhweju, Hon. Annet Oyes Byamukama.
The visit was aimed at assessing implementation of government programmes designed to improve household incomes among women, youth and other vulnerable groups. It included inspection of beneficiary projects before concluding with a community interaction at Nsiika.
During the meeting, women raised serious concerns about how some government wealth-creation programmes are administered at district level. The most serious complaints concerned alleged conduct by some Community Development Officers and other staff involved in implementation.
The women alleged that they are sometimes required to provide money or other favours before receiving assistance. Some specifically alleged that sexual demands have been made in exchange for assistance under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP).
The allegations were presented as a major barrier to benefiting from programmes specifically designed to empower women economically. Beneficiaries called for access to be based on clear rules, fairness and eligibility, and for stronger protection of those who report misconduct, citing fear of retaliation and exclusion.
Responding to the complaints, Hon. Kanusu directed the Chief Administrative Officer of Buhweju District to investigate the allegations and report back to the Parliamentary Committee within one week.
The directive requires the district administration to establish facts surrounding the complaints, identify officers implicated where evidence exists, and provide findings and action taken.
The one-week deadline signals that Parliament is treating the matter as an accountability issue involving public resources meant for citizens with limited financial capacity.
Beyond the allegations, the community also highlighted long distances travelled to access financial services and manage programme funds, which creates additional costs especially for rural beneficiaries.
In response, Hon. Annet Oyes Byamukama informed the community that she is pursuing an initiative through Ebenezer SACCO aimed at linking Buhweju residents to services offered by Pearl Bank Uganda Ltd to improve access to formal financial services closer to the people.
Before the Nsiika engagement, the Committee inspected projects including the Nyakishojwa BCTI Model Farm and visited Mwije A, who used PDM funds to establish a pig-rearing project. The inspections enabled legislators to see first-hand how support is being used.
The Committee and other leaders urged beneficiaries not to view government programmes as free money, but to use resources to establish sustainable businesses that generate income and improve household welfare through hard work, discipline and proper management.
The delegation had also planned to visit Nyakashaka Town Council but was unable to make it within available time. The Committee promised to return to Buhweju to continue engagements and follow up on outstanding matters.
The visit has opened an important accountability process in Buhweju. While programmes such as UWEP, YLP, PDM and the Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities are intended to empower citizens, the concerns raised at Nsiika show that effectiveness depends not only on availability of funds but also on integrity of systems through which citizens access them.
For the women of Buhweju, the message was clear: government wealth-creation programmes should empower them, not expose them to exploitation.
END.
