A heated confrontation erupted during the belated Women’s Day celebrations in Ngora District as two Members of Parliament, Stella Isodo (Ngora Woman MP, FDC) and Jenifer Ayoo (Kalaki Woman MP, NRM), clashed with Uganda’s East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) representative, Jacqueline Amongin, over the implementation of the government’s GROW (Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women) Program.
The celebrations, held at Akubui Primary School, were initially a moment of unity and recognition of women’s contributions to development. However, tensions flared when EALA MP Amongin made claims that she was responsible for bringing the GROW project to Ngora through a directive from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Speaking to the gathering, Amongin first expressed gratitude to President Museveni for initiating various programs aimed at uplifting women.
She then stated that she personally lobbied for the GROW Program’s extension to Ngora.
“I spent two years monitoring if this program would be brought here, but eventually the program didn’t come, I approached the President, who wrote a letter directing that the program be implemented in Ngora. I successfully ensured its rollout, but MP Isodo later wrote a letter to the Ministry questioning why I had brought the program here,” Amongin asserted.
She further declared that no one had the right to obstruct her efforts to bring development to the people of Ngora, urging women to embrace government programs for their benefit.
Her remarks were met with fierce resistance from MPs Isodo and Ayoo, who dismissed her claims as misleading and politically motivated.
MP Ayoo was the first to respond, calling for respect among leaders and reminding Amongin that Isodo had won the Ngora Woman MP seat with the people’s mandate.
“The GROW Program is a government initiative designed to uplift women from poverty. No individual can claim ownership over it. Politicians should be judged by their deeds, not their words,” Ayoo stated.
When given the floor, MP Isodo took a firm stance against Amongin’s assertions.
She began by apologizing to the audience for the political tension and accused Amongin of misleading the public.
“We have the GROW Program in Ngora, but my sister Amongin falsely claims that the government is partnering with her for its implementation. That is a lie. I wrote to the Ministry for clarification because the government does not officially partner with non-members of Parliament in such initiatives. When the Ministry responds, I will share the truth with the people of Ngora,” Isodo said.
She further accused Amongin of using government projects for political mileage, reminding the crowd that she never interfered during Amongin’s 10-year tenure as Ngora Woman MP.
“When you were serving as MP for Ngora, I never came to disrupt your leadership. But now, you are trying to take credit for government programs for your own political gain,” Isodo added.
The GROW Program is a government initiative aimed at improving the economic status of women by providing them with financial literacy, access to credit, and skills development.
It falls under Uganda’s broader strategy of poverty alleviation and women empowerment, complementing other programs like the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) and the Parish Development Model (PDM).
The government has partnered with various development agencies and financial institutions to implement the GROW Program, ensuring that women, especially in rural areas, have access to resources that enhance their economic participation.
The Grow Program, at the heart of the controversy, is one of several government initiatives aimed at empowering women by providing financial and technical support for income-generating activities.
The program aligns with broader national efforts, such as: Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP), Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga
This public confrontation underscores the deep political divisions in Ngora and the surrounding districts. Amongin, a former MP for Ngora involvement in the GROW Program has sparked speculation that she could be positioning herself for a political comeback.
Meanwhile, MP Isodo, who won the seat in 2021, faces the trial of maintaining her influence amid rival claims over development projects. Political analysts suggest that such disputes could shape the dynamics of the 2026 general elections in the district.
Despite the political wrangling, local women expressed their hopes that the program would not be derailed by leadership conflicts.
Several beneficiaries of the GROW Program urged their leaders to focus on ensuring effective implementation rather than engaging in political battles.
“I don’t care who brought the program. What matters is that it helps us access funding and business training,” said Annet Akol, a resident of Ngora town council.
With women’s economic empowerment being a key pillar of Uganda’s development agenda, stakeholders now await the Ministry’s clarification on the matter.
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