By Henry Okello
TORORO
Eight groups from Tororo Municipality have been successfully verified to benefit from the government of Uganda’s Special Grant Project for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly.
The verification, conducted on Thursday, 19th February, 2026 by officials from the Ministry of Gender, took place at the Mayor’s Garden, gathering a vibrant crowd eager to start their journey towards economic independence.
The Special Grant Project, recently launched to empower PWDs and the elderly, aims to increase self-sufficiency, enhance income-generating opportunities, and boost participation in national development.
This initiative complements the already existing National Special Grant for the Elderly, designed to drive social and economic inclusion for some of Uganda’s most vulnerable populations.
To qualify for the grant, groups must identify potential income-generating projects and submit detailed proposals outlining their plans.
The funding, limited to a maximum of 5 million shillings per group, is typically directed toward small-scale enterprises that promise sustainability and growth.
Each application begins with the completion of a Disability Grant Project Application Form, requiring PWDs to thoughtfully plan their proposed project.
Once filled and signed, this form is submitted through the municipal community-based services, ensuring that a collaborative approach is maintained throughout the process.
Upon verification of the groups, a dedicated team from the Ministry of Gender undertakes a fact-finding mission to confirm the group’s existence and preparedness before any funds are allocated to their bank accounts.
On Thursday, the team verified six PWD groups in Tororo Municipality, including Agururu A1 PWDs Local Heifer, Bison A PWDs Local Heifers, Amagoro B South PWDs Local Heifers, Railway Quarters PWDs Local Heifers, Mudakori PWDs Local Heifers, and Naluwerere PWDs Local Heifers.
Additionally, they assessed two older persons’ groups, fostering an inclusive environment for all beneficiaries.
Stella Taaka, a senior officer from the Ministry of Gender was glad that all the municipality groups were well prepared and met all the requirements to benefit from the program.
She revealed to the group members who were present at the verification centre that their grant will be sent on their accounts before the end of March.
The Tororo municipal council senior development officer, Emmanuel Odongo Owino asked the group members to avoid diverting the money to unplanned activities arguing that this will kill the government’s spirit of supporting the program.
He also asked the intended beneficiaries to seek guidance from technical officers in line with different enterprises they have selected to avoid making avoidable mistakes.
Groups under this program will be given different amount of money by the government due to the varying enterprises selected however, this will not exceed Shs5 million.
