Atiak massacre survivors move on with self-help initiatives

AMURU– All is not lost for the members belonging to Atiak Massacre Survivors’ Association in Atiak Sub-county in Amuru district as they have engaged in self-help initiatives to improve their lives.

The Atiak massacre, orchestrated by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army on April 20, 1995, left 250 people dead in Atiak internally displaced camp, Atiak Sub-county, Amuru district. The rebels also abducted dozens before retreating to their hideouts.

Years later, some of those who survived the massacre formed an association to develop themselves. However, they accuse the first leadership of who they claim swindled Shs 30 million of Shs 50mln donated to the association by President Yoweri Museveni in 2016.

However, through their village savings and loan association, the members are using the remaining money as a revolving fund to help themselves economically. Some have been able to procure iron sheets, oxen and ox-ploughs for land opening while others have bought dairy cattle for commercial purposes.

“In the self–help initiatives, members get loans for iron sheets, oxen for livelihood and animal keeping, something that has given us hope,’’  Pascal Aketto, chairperson of the association says.

He said members repay the loan within a year at an interest rate of only 10 percent.

He said 35 members of the association were able to get loans for iron sheets last year, adding that the selection committee will choose other members ready to get the same.

“We give loans depending on one’s need and the loan ranges from Shs 100,000 – Shs 1,000,000,’’ Aketto said.

Sylvester Lawino, who lost his mother during the Atiak massacre is happy that he was one the first beneficiaries of to get iron sheets using a loan from the association.

To him, the self-help initiative is a wake-up call that as survivors, they can make a change not only in their lives but in the community as well.

Another survivor and a beneficiary of the self–help initiative, Irene Oyik, said the first leadership that misused the donated by Museveni gave them a lesson, the reason he said they are now utilising the available funds better.

“To us, it is an achievement since we have also been able to utilise the little resources to pay school fees for the vulnerable children who are willing to further their studies,’’ she said.

Atiak Sub-county Chairperson, Kenneth Okot said decided to have self-help initiatives after failing to get government support.

“We are glad the new leadership is taking them in the right direction for self-sustainability than waiting for donations from government and well-wishers. We feel they will go a long way in fighting household poverty.

“To date, we are seeing even the children who lost their parents at the time of the attack being brought on board unlike in the past leadership.”

Amuru district senior community development officer John Bosco Olum, lauded the association’s members for the initiative, urging them to tap into government programmes if they are to scale up their activities.

https://thecooperator.news/angry-ikwera-sacco-members-demand-for-their-savings/

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