Uganda warns women entrepreneurs against fraudulent GROW Project grant offers

Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda (NPA) — Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has warned the public, particularly women entrepreneurs, against fraudulent individuals using the names of the ministry and the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project to solicit money and personal information under the guise of offering grants.

In a public notice issued on October 23, 2026, and signed by Alex Asiimwe, Acting Permanent Secretary, the ministry said fraudsters were directing unsuspecting members of the public to unauthorised websites to register for purported GROW Project grants.

The ministry said the platforms were neither authorised nor affiliated with or endorsed by the government or the project, adding that they were being used to deceive the public through false representations and unlawful solicitation.

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It advised members of the public, especially women entrepreneurs, not to register on such platforms or disclose personal information through them.

According to the ministry, all official announcements, advertisements, application windows and programme updates relating to the GROW Project are communicated exclusively through its official channels.

These include the GROW Project website, www.grow.go.ug, the ministry’s website, www.mglsd.go.ug, its official social media platforms on X, TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn, as well as national daily newspapers where applicable.

The ministry warned that any website, social media account, agent, individual or organisation claiming to represent the project outside these channels should be treated as fraudulent.

It said the matter had been reported to the relevant law enforcement authorities for investigation and appropriate action.

The public was also urged to report to the nearest police station anyone demanding money, facilitation fees, registration charges or other payments in exchange for access to GROW Project training, financing, grants or business support services.

The ministry further clarified that applications for the GROW Business Plan Competition Grants had not yet opened.

It said an official announcement would be made through the designated communication channels when the application window became available, with all applications to be submitted electronically through the project’s official website.