More than 1,400 groups are set to benefit from the Presidential
Initiative on wealth creation.
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.
Santos Okot Lapolo, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner disclosed that
documents of 1,442 groups have been successfully verified and submitted to the
Uganda Cooperative Alliance for consideration.
Of the groups, 538 are from Pece division, 358 from Bardege, 247 from Layibi
division and 299 from Laroo division.
Lapolo explained that they received overwhelming applications from groups
seeking to benefit from the programs but others were not successful because
they did not meet the required criteria.
He added that the various Community Development departments within Gulu City
have already started financial and economic training of the successful
groups.
But the majority of the groups have protested the move to have them under a
SACCOS and the money later be distributed to their different
associations.
For instance, all saloon operators in each division will be grouped as one,
form a SACCOS and the 30 Million Shillings be deposited to their accounts then
later distributed to the smaller associations.
Robert Jang Jok, the General Secretary for Can Kelo Diro Group in the Pece division
said that the idea is unwise and will promote corruption.
He advised that all monies must be channelled to each association`s account
depending on the budget.
//Cue in: ‘’now SACCO what…
Cue out: …their budget proposal.’’//
Walter Nyeko, another beneficiary from Vanguard Parish told URN that the idea
of forming SACCOS to deposit money as opposed to depositing money in each
association`s account is unrealistic.
//Cue in: ‘’I need to…
Cue out: …another team again.’’//
Filder Apiyo, the Chairperson Kica Ber Produce Dealers in Vanguard Parish said
that in 2016 various groups in Gulu City missed out supports to saving groups
by the President after one SACCO group monopolized all the processes and took
all the money amounting to over one Billion Shillings.
But the RDC says that he could not make any comment over the concerns arguing
that the entire process is being handled by the central government.
A total of 150 Billion Shillings has so far been released for the Emyooga out of
the 260 Billion Shillings.
Emmy Daniel Ojara is a young journalist and has been practicing since 2013, during which he covered land rights violation in the contested Apaa and Lakang in Amuru as his first take ups while at Gulu Fm, Favor Fm and later Paidha Fm and Speak Fm where he is still attached.
Human rights abuses and denied access to land by security and government agencies has been the major aftermath of the contest over the lands. The underprivileged such as women, children and the elderly faced challenges in accessing soc
