Covid-19 effects hit Kitgum cooperatives hard

KITGUM– Several cooperatives in Kitgum district are still grappling with the effects of Covid-19 pandemic, according to the members.

The cooperators say that during the partial lockdown to minimise the spread of Covid-19 among people, many members could not do much in their various enterprises, affecting some sectors, especially since the movement of people and traders was controlled. They say up-to-date they have not yet recovered.

Santos Oryema, Chairperson Kitgum Teacher’s Cooperative Savers and Credit Society Limited, says Shs 119 million in loans to members has not been recovered, as they are unable to pay back the loan, attributing it to Covid-19 pandemic measures that were put in place to stop the spread of the disease among humans.

“We are facing financial challenges since a lot of money is still out there with the members. The amount comprises the interest and penalties to members who failed to pay back the money as their ventures were affected by Covid-19, pandemic,” Oryema said.

He said they are engaging higher authorities on how best members can repay the loans without hurdles.

Jessica Aloyo, who got a loan of Shs 600,000, said she retired from active service and is unable to repay the money at the moment.

“Where can I get money from to repay the loan? Well, it helped me, but have I retired and still chasing for my retirement package, then I will think of repaying the loan,” she said.

To her, she is willing to repay the loan but is only hampered by limited finances.

Santa Latabu, the team leader Kony- Paco Cooperative Society that deals in oil seeds, noted that they are limping as most activities have been stopped.

“Some members have pulled out and instead focused on personal ventures to make ends meet, something that has further crippled the cooperative.

Resident District Commissioner [RDC], Kitgum William Komakech, tasked the co-operators to make use of the government programme in place to revive their limping cooperatives other than lamenting about Covid-19.

They should benefit from the government programmes that are within the district, Emyooga, Youth livelihood fund and Uganda Women Entrepreneurship programme [UWEP], to revive the cooperatives.

According to him, the programmes are to benefit the locals at the household level who are in groups or under cooperatives.

“I will task the commercial officer to see how best those cooperatives are reached out and guided on how to get government funding to boast their enterprises under their various cooperatives,” he said.

The Manager East Acholi Cooperative Union [EACU], Henry Komakech acknowledged the challenges faced by the cooperatives. He said they are co-financing some of them so that they can get back on their feet.

“We are equally concerned, that is why we gave a helping hand but we are also advising them to tap on to the ongoing Parish Development Model [PDM] as cooperatives they will be supported,” he said.

The union is also engaging financial institutions that can give a helping hand to the cooperators so that the cooperative spirit is revived.

EACU brings together more than 100 primary cooperatives and their main activity is cotton, soya-bean, groundnuts and sim-sim growing.

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