The deputy district gender and social development officr Mr. Wilberforce Lumula addressing women during the issuing of (WEFL) cheques. Photo/ Joseph Amunya.

Over Sh. 500,000 disbursed to women groups in Lugari constituency Cheques totaling to Sh 550,000 were disbursed to ten women groups in under the Constituency Women Enterprise Fund Loan (WEFL) in the larger Lugari district.

Presiding over the brief ceremony that was held outside ministry of gender and development offices, Lugari District Deputy Gender Officer Mr. Wilberforce Lumula urged women who are currently under the WEF programme to invest wisely in income-generating, especially in small scale sector.

Urging them against channeling the money to non-incoming generating projects such as paying school fees, Lumula cautioned the recipients against allowing the cash to cause rifts amongst them.

In order to make sure that the funds were being put to proper use, the officer said that his office will continue monitoring group members and their activities.

He urged the beneficiaries to continue repaying the interest free loans at the agreed rates and in time in order to enable the government bring on board other deserving groups of women.

Lumula revealed that so far a total of 54 women groups have benefited from the government funded loan since the programme started in 2008 in the district.

The gender officer appealed to women to capitalize on the many opportunities offered by the new constitution so as to economically empower themselves.

Others present at the function included Lugari WEF volunteer Mrs. Phyloice Chengea, Lugari Rural Stimulus Programme (RSP) representative Mr. Japheth Mulati and Lugari Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) representative Mrs. Joyce Wafukho Kirimi.