Single mothers in Busia county have agreed to establish a skills and empowerment centre.

They said a dedicated centre would enable single mothers to acquire practical skills, access entrepreneurship training and benefit from county and national government empowerment programmes to enhance self-reliance and improving livelihoods.

The resolution was reached during a consultative meeting at the Agricultural Training Centre in Busia town on Monday.

Busia County Single Mothers’ Group chairperson Beatrice Opwapo said the proposed centre will focus on vocational training, agribusiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Apwapo said the centre will also offer psychosocial support, while serving as a platform for mentorship and peer networking.

Opwapo, who is also the Busia county nominated MCA said the initiative will address challenges facing single mothers, including unemployment, poverty, social stigma and limited access to skills.

She termed the centre a timely intervention aligned with Busia county’s empowerment and inclusive development agenda.

Opwapo urged the county government, development partners and well-wishers to support the initiative that seeks to ensure single mothers live a dignified life.

She said single mothers face financial struggles raising children alone, limited job opportunities where they have to balance between work, parenting and housing insecurities.

The women also agreed to take up economic activities including fish farming to improve their standards of living and avoid over-dependence on support from others, which leads to their exploitation.

The event was attended by Matayos constituency parliamentary aspirant Humphrey Nakitari and senatorial aspirant Beneditte Muyomi.

Nakitari lauded Opwapo for spearheading the initiative, saying it would significantly uplift the economic status of single mothers.

He donated sewing machines to support the women’s empowerment efforts.

Muyomi urged the Busia government to allocate funds specifically to support single mothers and pledged to personally support them through table banking initiatives.