Oyam Veterans Demand Government Support for SACCO Growth

A group of veterans in Oyam District is appealing to the government for financial support to strengthen their Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCO). The SACCO, formed in 2023, was officially launched on January 15, 2025, at Oyam Boma Grounds.

The SACCO comprises 347 members, including retired soldiers and widows of former combatants who lost their lives during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in northern Uganda. Speaking to journalists in Oyam Town over the weekend, Charles Rosko Olila, the chairperson of the SACCO, revealed that the official launch was delayed due to financial constraints.

He noted that although the SACCO is now fully registered with the district’s commercial office, they urgently need government funding to support their income-generating activities. Olila explained that the primary objective of the SACCO is to uplift the livelihoods of its members, particularly widows, orphans, and other vulnerable individuals who lack access to government initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM).

One of the members, Molly Akot, a widow from Ngai Sub-county, shared her struggles. She lost her husband in 2005 during the LRA conflict and has since been raising their six children single-handedly. "I joined the SACCO hoping to receive some support, because despite our suffering, the government has not considered individuals like me for any assistance," she lamented.

Olila further disclosed that in March 2025, the SACCO initiated income-generating projects such as tree nursery beds and piggery, with an initial investment of UGX 2 million contributed by members. However, he said they need additional capital—approximately UGX 7 million—to venture into other projects like poultry and fishing.

In response, Richard Tabaaro, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Oyam, urged the veterans to remain patient. He assured them that his office would submit their request to the Ministry of Veteran Affairs, noting that their documents are already recommended by the district commercial officer. Tabaaro also encouraged the veterans to remain responsible and committed to hard work, and he called on more people to form or join such groups to increase their chances of benefiting from government support. .