Gulu City West Boda-Boda riders shun saving with own SACCO
According to the leaders, in July 2019, hundreds of Boda-boda members in Gulu City lost millions of shillings in savings to their leaders who mismanaged the money, bringing about mistrust among the members.
GULU, July 26, 2024 – Attempts by Boda-boda leaders under Gulu City West Boda Boda Association to have members again save with their Saving Credit and Cooperative Organisation [SACCO] have failed due to mistrust from members.
According to the leaders, in July 2019, hundreds of Boda-boda members in Gulu City lost millions of shillings in savings to their leaders who mismanaged the money, bringing about mistrust among the members.
Okot Thomas Oboma who was the Chairperson of Gulu District Boda Boda Motorcycle Association was accused of embezzling Shs 33.6 million of members’ savings.
He was also accused of failing to account for 33 motorcycles donated to the association by leaders.
This led to the disbanding of Gulu District Boda Boda Motorcycle Association, and formation of two associations; Gulu City West Boda-boda Association and Gulu City East Boda-boda Association.
Ocen Emmy, the chairperson Gulu City West Boda-boda Association told this reporter that attempts to have members save with their SACCO have been futile as members are scared of losing their money.
“You don’t stop drinking water because someone drowned in water, so we are explaining to members that we are different from the previous leaders who mishandled their savings. We have even picked one of the members to be a signatory to the SACCO account just to build that trust,” Ocen said.
Currently, just 20 out of over 4,000 members of Gulu City West Boda-boda Association have embraced the SACCO and are making weekly savings of Shs 5,000 per member.
Ocen explained that, “It’s important for people to save money. Savings provide a quick relief in case of problems such as when you lose a loved one or when a member gets an accident or dies. Often members lose their motorcycles acquired on loan because they fail to complete payments yet this can be avoided if they were saving.”
The Chairperson said that from January to date, they have registered 16 cases of members losing their bikes after failing to pay off their motorcycle loans to motorcycle loans companies.
Komakech Tolit, a boda boda operator said he does not want to become part of the SACCO because of lack of accountability in the past.
“I don’t save money with the Association because they always collect money from members promising to get for us motorcycles but they end up misusing the money,” Komakech said.
Komakech adds that he prefers saving his money elsewhere because it is safe.
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