[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[March 24, 1998]
[Pages 429-430]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Foundation for International Community Assistance Women's 
Village in Wanyange
March 24, 1998

    Thank you very much. I will try to say this right: Khodeyo [How are 
you]? [Applause] Thank you. I must say it is a great honor for me to be 
around a group of women who say they are willing to give jobs to men. 
Thank you very much. [Laughter]
    It is a great honor for me to be here with the President and Mrs. Museveni. 
My wife and I like these loan programs very much. And Florence, we thank you for the fine job you did being the 
leader of this program today. I want to thank Milli Mukyala and Robinah Balidawa; 
thank you very much for being an example to women, not only throughout 
Uganda and, indeed, Africa but throughout the world. The United States 
is proud to support FINCA in these efforts. FINCA now has set up 3,400 
banking groups, like the two of which you're a part, in Africa, in Latin 
America, in the former Soviet Union.
    The United States, just in the last 2 years, has increased its 
support for such programs through our AID program, and now we are making 
over 2 million loans every year to people just like you--over 2 million. 
What that means is that women in villages like this all across the world 
are going to be able to meet the needs of their children, as Milli so 
eloquently describes, are going to be able to build the economies of 
their villages. It will make their nations stronger, and they will make 
the world a better place. So the song you sang today is a song for 
children everywhere. It's a song for women everywhere. It's a song for 
the future of the world everywhere. We will continue to support these 
programs as long as I am President.
    I want to say a special word of appreciation to my wife, who introduced me to these programs now over 
12 years ago. Twelve years ago she came to me and told me about what was 
happening in a far away country in Asia--Bangladesh. And she said this 
could be done everywhere. And you have shown through your media and 
ours--today you have shown the whole world what can be done in villages 
everywhere. So you have done a great service not only to yourselves and 
your own children but for women just like you all across the globe. And 
we thank you very, very much.

Note: The President spoke at 6:07 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, and his wife, Janet; 
Florence

[[Page 430]]

Kangolo, master of ceremonies; Milli Mukyala, dairy distribution 
operator; and Robinah Balidawa, business owner. The President also 
referred to the Foundation for International Community Assistance 
(FINCA).