Several group members claim that they were promised to receive and have full control of the funds by the district leaders after fulfilling all the requirements, but are instead directed to form and register their groups under SACCOs at the Sub-county level.
Groups that subscribed to
benefit from the Presidential Initiative for Wealth and job creation 'emyooga'
funds in Buvuma and Mukono district have raised concerns about the formation of
Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies- SACCOs.
Several group members claim that they were promised to receive and
have full control of the funds by the district leaders after fulfilling all
the requirements, but are instead directed to form and register their groups
under SACCOs. at the Sub-county level.
According to the guidelines after the beneficiaries have formed groups at the
village level, they are supposed to form a SACCO at sub-county level through
which money will be channelled.
However, beneficiaries claim that they were not informed about all the
guidelines.
James Sitibwakuno a market vendor at Buvuma says after submitting
all the requirements, their group has been waiting for money but was surprised
to be told to register under a SACCO.
//Cue in: “Abantu bafunye okutya…
Cue out: …kukintu kino ekiriwo”//
Abubaker Musana a fisherman at Buvuma says they have been tasked to contribute
30,000 Shillings to register a SACCO.
The Mukono District Commercial Officer James Ntege appeals for calm. He says
that the beneficiaries should fulfil the requirements and then wait for the
funds. He notes that SACCO executives are only entitled to monitor the transfer
of money to active groups.
Records at the office of the District Commercial Officer indicate
that 500 groups have registered to benefit from the program through about 50 of
them have complied to form SACCOs.
Yusufu Katongole a restaurant operator says group members are being discouraged
to fulfill all the requirements saying it is a government trick of delaying the registration
process.
//Cue in: “Okunziira mubaamu…
Cue out: …eya disitirikiti”//
The program was introduced by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
this year to offer seeds capital to the informal sectors that come together to
form groups.
Each successful group which comprises saloon operators, Boda-boda operators,
journalists, produce dealers, women, business communities, youth, carpentry and
joinery among others will receive thirty million shillings’ seeds
capital.
