The Rwanda Association of Local Government Authority (Ralga) has called on women to initiate small business enterprises in a stepped up fight against poverty in the country.

The Secretary General of Ralga, Johnson Mugaga, said that women empowerment in income generating activities is a principal tool in fighting poverty and fostering good social and economic standards among the masses.

He was on Tuesday addressing a two-day workshop for women leaders at La Pallise Hotel.

"We need to empower women leaders to increase their capacity in as far as the production sector is concerned, such that they can also teach other women.”

Mugaga noted that RALGA gives priority to women entrepreneurships as a way of transforming from subsistence farming to a service based economy.

Mugaga urged participants that as leaders they have a big role to play in solving gender related issues regarding economic, political and social problems that confront women.

Participants were urged to encourage women to initiate small projects as a way of fighting poverty in their families.

The president of the Rwandan Forum of Women Parliamentarians (FFRP) Specioza Mukandutiye said that women leaders should fulfill their responsibilities and demonstrate their capabilities by identifying hindrances to women economic development.

"As women leaders we are supposed to serve as an example in all that we do including fostering economic development and good governance,” Mukandutiye said.

She also encouraged women to adjust their performances to suit in the greater East African community market.

The lawmaker also called on women to work as a team.

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