Betty Akello Otekat, the Amudat Resident District Commissioner told URN that they delayed disbursing the money to the beneficiaries because the groups were not organized and were unprepared to receive the funds.
Authorities in Amudat district have not yet
released the 560 million shillings that was meant to benefit the EMYOOGA SACCOs
groups to enhance wealth creation for households.
It’s now two years since the Emyooga program was
kicked off across the country, however Amudat district is still struggling
with the program and the beneficiaries are yet to receive their funds.
Betty Akello Otekat, the Amudat Resident District Commissioner told URN that they delayed disbursing the money to the beneficiaries because the groups were not organized and were unprepared to receive the funds.
Akello observed that the communities were not
sensitized enough to understand the value of the program and how they should
utilize the money when given out.
According to her, they have so far certified 35
SACCO groups and 168 Enterprises as being ready to receive money once they meet all the
requirements. She also urged leaders to do more in sensitization because it
seems the information about Emyooga is still scarce in the community.
‘’At the moment I’m happy that the groups have
elected their executives, we are now doing some sensitization before
giving out money,’’ Akello said.
She also revealed that the commercial officer who
would help to implement the program is still new in the office and not well
versed with the operational systems.
Akello confirmed that the district is holding 560
million shillings to benefit all the registered and certified Emyooga group
SACCOs.
//Cue in : ‘’we are now going……….//
Cue out : ‘’……..enterprises 168.’’//
Joseph Lobot, the district chairperson noted that
it was unfortunate that the money was released soon after the elections and
people thought the money was an appreciation from the president.
Lobot observed that the money came in at the time
the new leadership just resumed the offices after the elections and no one bothered to organize the beneficiaries.
‘’The money appeared to be political, people perceived that
the money was a presidential handshake and no one sensitized them on how the
money should be utilized,’’ Lobot said.
He noted that due to lack of knowledge about the
program, some individuals used the opportunity to formulate their ghost groups
so they could obtain the money.
Lobot revealed that the groups which were formed
before were all canceled because there were irregularities and new
beneficiary groups were formed.
//Cue in: ‘’ it was very unfortunate…………//
Cue out : ‘’…….from different districts.’’//
Meanwhile in Kotido district, the authorities are
yet to recover money from the eighteen Emyooga SACCOs that received the funds
from 2020 to 2021.
Francis Obita, the senior district commercial
officer for Kotido district, told URN that they received 560 million shillings
in December 2020 and the money was disbursed to the eighteen registered SACCO
groups.
Obita said each SAACO group received 30 million
shillings except for the Elders association which received 50 million shillings.
He says it is unfortunate that most of the groups that received money have gone
mute and none of them is thinking of repaying back the money nor making any savings.
Obita confirmed that most of the group accounts
in the bank are nearly cashless while others have since been closed.
The presidential Initiative on Job creation was
launched in August 2019 as part of the broad government strategy to transform
the homesteads from subsistence to market orientated production with the
overall objective of improving household income.
