MP. Miriam Mukhaye Responds To The Alleged GROW Funds Scam-"I Didn't Assign Anyone To Collect Money From The Applicants"

Mbale District Woamn Member Of parliament, Hon. Miriam Mukhaye Finally Reaponds To The Alleged Money Scam In Bungokho Central and South.

"I didn't assign anyone to collect Money from The GROW Funds applicants. I am also shocked noticing that a group of individuals have been soliciting  funds under my Name from community members in different villages in Bungokho central and south "-Mukhaye. This isn't a simple issue, therefore, I am not taking it slightly, this matter is before security organs and the culprit shall be brought to books" - Mp Mukhaye in a phone call response with our reporter.

Mukhaye was responding to the escalating accusations that she commanded a group of people to charge between 10,000-15,000 Shs from those Women who wished to benefit in the ongoing GROW Funds Programme.

Recently, a tense confrontation erupted in Busano when a lady claiming to be a coordinator of Miriam Mukhaye was chased away from a funeral. 

The community's anger stemmed from allegations that Mukhaye had taken Ugx 10,000 from several women, promising certain benefits or services, but had refused to refund the money or deliver on her promises.

The situation escalated when the alleged coordinator arrived at the funeral, purportedly to represent Mukhaye. 

However, the women present, who had been affected by Mukhaye's alleged actions, quickly identified the coordinator and confronted her. 

The crowd's anger boiled over, and the coordinator was chased away in a dramatic fashion.

Though responding to this, Mukhaye noted that true, this was her coordinator but she was a mistaken identity who even never took part in the previous Scam.

"I always work with clean people, I hate cheating because I am a Christian. In the first place, I don't think I, or this coordinator could pick money from the community. These are planted programs by my opponents, who are trying to fail me politically. They all know what I am capable of, I call upon the community to distance itself from this cheap talk and these Scamers"-She said. 

According to our findings, incident has sparked widespread outrage in the Busano community, with many calling for Mukhaye to return the money she allegedly took. 

The women affected are demanding justice and accountability, and the community is rallying behind them.

Though, Mukhaye advised them to file cases at police, pinpointing those individuals who were soliciting money from them in her Name and she will pickup from that point. 

More About The GROW Funds Project:

The GROW Fund in Uganda, specifically the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project, as this is a prominent initiative in Uganda. 

The GROW Project is a Government of Uganda initiative, funded by the World Bank, aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, sustain self-employment, and create jobs. 

It is implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU). The project targets women with existing micro and small-scale businesses, particularly those who have benefited from programs like Emyooga, Parish Development Model, or Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme.

Key Details:

Objective: Increase access to entrepreneurial services to help women entrepreneurs grow their enterprises, including in refugee-hosting districts.

Services: Provides a "wrap-around" approach with:

Business development and capacity-building services.

Access to loans (not grants) through six commercial banks: Centenary Bank, DFCU Bank, Equity Bank, Stanbic Bank, Finance Trust Bank, and Post Bank. Borrowers must meet bank lending standards.

Support for Women Entrepreneurs Platforms (WEPs) to mobilize and prepare women for GROW services.

Funding: The project is valued at Shs180 billion.

Access: Women entrepreneurs can apply via the GROW website (www.grow.go.ug) (www.grow.go.ug) or obtain physical application forms from GROW Focal Point Officers (typically Community Development or Labour Officers) in districts, cities, or municipalities. Refugee women can access forms through settlement commandants.

Locations: Gender and Labour House, 3rd Floor, Plot 2 George Street, Kampala, or PSFU office at TRUST Tower, Ground Floor, Kyadondo Road, Nakasero.