Embattled Masaka SACCO Officials Decline to Resign

The executive of Masaka United Taxi Drivers and Owners Cooperative Society- MUTDOCS has refused to resign for alleged financial impropriety. On Thursday, a group of taxi operators called for the resignation of Masaka United Taxi Drivers and Owners Cooperative Society- MUTDOCS during their annual general meeting held at Maria Flo Hotel for alleged failure to account for 20 million shillings. The operators stormed out of the Hotel and demanded the arrest of George Kiberu, the Chairperson Masaka United Taxi Drivers and Owners Cooperative Society- MUTDOCS and his executive.

As a result, the embattled SACCO officials called for the eviction of the drivers from the hotel for rebelling against their leadership. George Kiberu, the chairperson Masaka United Taxi Drivers and Owners Cooperative Society- MUTDOCS has dismissed calls for their resignation. Kiberu insists they have done nothing wrong adding that, they have presented all the necessary accountability. He says that the only query they have stem from some of the drivers who accessed loans from the SACCO and have failed to pay back.

Kiberu appeals to the aggrieved drivers to wait until their two-year term expires next year. Vincent Ssentongo, the SACCO Spokesperson says they don’t have any liquid cash having spent million shillings to buy two minibuses last year. He says currently they can’t give out any loans because they spent huge sums of money to clear taxes to have the minibuses on the road. Ssentongo says they are now saving money to buy another omnibus to increase to expand their financial base. The angry drivers say they will not give the incumbent SACCO officials another term in office next year.

Tanansi Bazeketta, the Managing Director of Maria Flo Hotel has condemned the violence at his hotel. He says Thursday's protests were an act of hooliganism.