Majority of women have no knowledge about the various devolved funds available to them, so as to improve their socio-economic well being.
Speaking on Tuesday during celebrations to mark the International Women’s day in Kisukioni area Matungulu sub-county, Maendeleo ya wanawake chairlady Victoria Mulalia called for concerted efforts in educating women in the area on the availability of the funds in form of loans and grants and the need to apply.
She said majority of the womenfolk were unable to access kitties like the Uwezo Fund because they feared to apply thinking that they were stringent loans like those borrowed from other financial institutions.
Mulalya noted that women still face myriad challenges in representation especially in leadership positions given that the one third gender rule has not been realized.
She singled out other problems experienced by women, including economic exclusion, domestic violence, lack of access to education,harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation and early marriages among other hurdles.
She challenged local women to rise up and vie for elective positions for them to participate effectively in critical decisions affecting them and the country at large.
"I would urge women to rise up and vie for elective seats so as to be able to address the challenges facing the women," said Mulalya.