Acholi cultural leader urges Museveni to fulfil Shs 1 billion pledge for SACCO
GULU CITY, August 20, 2025 – The Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II, has appealed for Shs 2 billion to capitalise the cultural institution’s Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation [SACCO], while also calling on President Yoweri Museveni to honour his long-standing pledge of Shs 1 billion made four years ago.
Rwot Acana noted that the SACCO was established to financially empower members of the institution’s chiefdoms. However, securing adequate capital to run it effectively has remained a major challenge, despite the President’s earlier promise of support.
The appeal was made during Museveni’s recent visit to the Acholi Sub-region, primarily focused on addressing cattle compensation claims. Rwot Acana emphasised that the SACCO is intended to benefit all 57 chiefdoms under the Acholi cultural institution.
He explained that while many of the chiefdoms are engaged in agricultural production, the lack of value addition remains a key bottleneck. He said the SACCO can address this by providing credit to enterprising individuals within the community.
“We are conducting extensive royal tours across communities, encouraging our people to increase production. However, we also want to enhance value addition through SACCO support. That is why we urgently require additional funding,” said Acana.
He further urged government to include cultural institutions in the implementation of the Parish Development Model [PDM], citing existing community structures, such as SACCOs, which are already contributing to socio-economic transformation.
“So far, we have reached 44 out of the 57 chiefdoms during our royal tours. Our message is consistent, focused on coordination, value addition, commercial production, community mobilisation, and mindset change.”
Rwot Acana also highlighted that the tours aim to promote awareness around wealth creation and to discourage harmful cultural practices increasingly being adopted by the youth.
In response to the plea, Museveni directed State House Comptroller Jane Barekye to address Rwot Acana’s financial request without delay.
Museveni had convened a meeting with Acholi leaders on Monday at the Gulu Core PTC Playground in Gulu City, to discuss compensation for cattle losses suffered during the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency in northern Uganda.
https://thecooperator.news/rwot-acana-writes-to-museveni-over-eviction-in-pader-residents/
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