In Kampala:Lydia Jemba named Woman Achiever of 2013

Lydia Jemba, a resident of Namyumba Wakiso district, has emerged the winner of the 9th edition of the women’s achievers awards running under the theme Women in Poverty alleviation.

The announcement was made by the Features Editor John Eremu at the New Vision headquarters on Friday.
She was closely followed by Jolly Okot from Gulu in second place and Alice Byangwa took third.

The three women who beat 27 finalists to the top positions where picked by a panel of judges from various groups in the country.

The judges included Anne Nakawunde, the Executive Director of Uganda Finance Trust; Maggie Mabweijano, Ag. Commissioner of Gender and Women Affairs in the Ministry of Gender and Social Development and  Stella Ayo Odongo, the Executive Director of Uganda Child Rights NGO Network.

Other panelists were Yusuf Giduno, the Communications Manager of Rural Financial Services Program under the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development, and Ruth Musoke the Director of member services under Private Sector Foundation Uganda.
The brainchild behind Namayumba Epicentre SACCO Ltd, Jemba (top right) was commended for her ability to mobilize a number of people in her community to form a community bank.

“She has effectively mobilized the community and the projects benefit the whole community and her utilization of the available resources makes her effective, she deserves applause as role mode,” said selection judge Ruth Musoke.

The runners-up - Jolly Okot and Alice Byangwa – were equally commended for their unique projects.

Jolly’s antics of getting girls off the streets into making crafts and Byangwa’s ability to provide childcare services for working mothers while giving them soft loans, pleased the judges.

The deputy managing editor, Ben Opolot, said that it is sad that women’s contribution to the economy is immense yet hardly recognized.

The judges reached their final decision before delivering the announcement on Friday. PHOTO/Esther Namirimu

He highlighted that some women still have to struggle for the simple things like getting an education, good health care and so much more.

In order to uplift all women in Uganda’s circles, Opolot emphasized that Vision Group has deliberately put in place products like Her Vision pull-out in New Vision Tuesday newspaper, Flair Magazine, Toto Magazine in New Vision Wednesday newspaper and Bride & Groom to serve that purpose.

The search for this year’s woman achiever kicked off in January and will be crowned with a dinner during which participants will be recognized.

The top five will be awarded with certificates and the top three rewarded with cash prizes of sh5m, sh2m and sh1m.