The latest figures obtained from the Soroti City commercial office show that the overall recovery level of Emyooga funds in the 36 SACCOs across the city stands at only 42 percent.
On Tuesday, December 24, 2024, Pader District Commercial Officer, Alfred Obaloker, reported that out of the 36 SACCOs registered under the program, only 20 received an additional 20 million shillings from the government.
Museveni directed the Regional Police Commander not to grant bail to anyone implicated in PDM and Emyooga fund misappropriation, warning that he would withhold bond from the Commander if his orders were ignored.
Geoffrey Ngirkeri, the Nebbi municipal Mayor, reveals that out of the 18 Emyooga SACCOs that received initial funding from the government, only 4 have received additional funds. Ngirkeri emphasizes plans to revitalize the disbanded SACCOs to ensure fund recovery.
Mario Obiga Kania, the Member of parliament for Terego East constituency also the State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban development challenged the elected leaders not to sleep on their job but monitor government programmes like Emyooga and the Parish Development Module (PDM)
The Auditor General’s report for FY 2020/202 revealed that groups such Lezebu Central Produce Traders received Shillings eight million Shillings in FY 2017/2018 and has never repaid. Another group, Abira-Alur Youth Grind Milling Project received seven million Shillings and has only paid Shillings 200,000 only in FY 2019/2020.
Anita Nyakato who is dealing in second hand clothes says she received 1.5 million shillings to boost her initial capital. In one year, she says she has bought a plot of land, opened-up two mini- boutiques and constructed a residential house with hope of establishing a bigger boutique and transiting into wholesale.
Sacco leaders argue that the initial 30 million shillings seed capital is inadequate compared to the number of groups and the members they are serving.
The Micro Support Centre Executive Director Petronilla Hellen Masika says that some beneficiaries stubbornly refused to pay back the money saying it was a political move by the government to win the 2021 general elections.
Ms. Hellen Masika, the deputy executive director of Microfinance support Center-MSC, says that the cultural Institution was given special consideration given the multiple challenges including conflicts and disasters that have affected its economy.
The Program was launched in August 2019 as part of the government’s strategies to transform 68 per cent of Ugandan homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production. Rukiga district received 560 million Shillings to benefit 18 Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization or Society (SACCO) with 636 benefiting groups.
Alex Opira, the District Principal Commercial Officer told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that only one Sacco group has been able to meet all the necessary requirements under the Emyooga guidelines.
The Uganda Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) which is managing the funds says they have been overwhelmed by the numbers requesting for the money, yet the funds are limited. According to the centre, Emyooga was launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in August 2019 as part of government’s strategies to transform 68% of Ugandan homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production.
The two currently being held at Kihihi police station are Eliab Niwagaba, a radio presenter at Kinkizi FM radio, and also the chairperson of the association and his treasurer Ausi Senyunja who reportedly failed to account for shillings 13 million.
Several Small scale entrepreneurs interviewed by URN expressed disappointment at the way the packages are being handled by the responsible government officials, which has seen the beneficiaries either fail to get the funds or receive less than they expected.
The State Minister for Microfinance, Kyegune Haruna Kasolo told URN while in Kasese District on Wednesday that they decided to start monitoring activities to pick out all the concerns about the program and respond to them on time.
In a meeting with the members from the cultural institution and elders on Sunday evening, the Acting Executive Director Micro Finance Support Centre-MSC Hellen Petronilla Masika said they have given the kingdom special consideration given the multiple challenges including conflicts and disasters that has affected its economy.
