APAC – Supervisors of Emyooga Programme in Apac Municipality and Apac district are struggling to recover Shs 50 million loaned to different Emyooga SACCOs owned by politicians in the two administrative units.
Emyooga Programme, a presidential initiative on wealth and job creation was launched in August 2019 as part of the broad government strategy targeting to transform 68 percent of homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production with the overall objective of promoting job creation and improving household income.
The initiative is centred on 18 specialised categories that include mechanics, welders, tailors, journalists, performing artists, politicians, carpenters, and market vendors among others.
In 2021, Apac District and Apac Municipality received Shs1.5bln for 50 SACCOs in Maruzi North County, Maruzi County, and Apac Municipality. Subsequently, a sum of Shs 50mln was wired to the bank accounts of Emyooga SACCOs run by politicians.
However, records at the district commercial offices indicate that 40 politicians in Apac Municipality and Apac district have failed to pay back the money they received from their Emyooga SACCOs, with the supervisors only recovering Shs 4mln of the Shs50mln the politicians’ SACCOs received.
James Ebonny Oyuru, Apac district commercial officer, who is supervising the programme in the two administrative units explained that the politicians who received money under Apac Municipal Political Leaders’ Emyooga SACCO, Apac Central Ward Political Leaders’ Emyooga SACCO, and Odokomac Political Leaders’ Emyooga SACCO have failed to pay back the money.
“In the first release 28 politicians borrowed the loan, in the second release they were 16. I have seen only four who have paid. Most of them have failed to pay back the money. They say Emyooga was a political gift donated to them by President Museveni. This is so embarrassing because they are supposed to lead by example,” he said.
“Imagine out of Shs1.5bln disbursed to different SACCOs, we have managed to recover only Shs72mln. Emyooga is not generally doing well in Apac with the exception of very few SACCOs and I put that blame on politicians who are doing contrary,” he added.
Jimmy Odongo, the chairperson of Apac Municipal Political Leaders’ Emyooga SACCO says that the politicians who borrowed the money have paid deaf ears to the several reminders to pay the money. “We explored all possible avenues in an attempt to recover the money. Letters were written severally, we even went to an extent of the name and shame approach, reading out their names at burial places and on local radios around but all didn’t work, “he said.
Politicians speak out
Andrew Awany, the secretary finance, planning and administration at Apac District Local Government who borrowed Shs 10mln and hasn’t paid says that many politicians are defaulting on their loan obligation because the money was released late that they could hardly make serious investments.
“Much as we are politicians, majority of us are involved in agriculture projects, but the money was released late in off-season periods. As a result, we had to keep the money while waiting for the seasonal rains. Although the loans are overdue, we are still waiting for the seasonal harvest,” he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
Peter Obong Acuda, Apac district speaker and the chairperson Apac Central Ward Political Leaders’ Emyooga SACCO, says “I personally borrowed Shs 2mln but we had a gap in our leadership structures you know in a situation where all seems to be wise, things are not easy. However, we sat in a meeting on Friday last week and agreed that the issue be resolved on July 12, 2023.”
Apac Municipal mayor, Patrick Ongom Eyul blamed the Micro Finance Support Centre [MSC] which was mandated to prepare the Emyooga group members across the country, saying they did not do enough in terms of sensitisation and building the capacities of the beneficiaries to ensure the success of the programme.
“I think in terms of knowledge; the Micro Finance Support Centre has the capacity to support the SACCOs to implement the Emyooga programme. I suggest that government recruits community-based trainers and attach each district or sub-counties commercial officers to support these Emyooga SACCOs. The district commercial officers are also overwhelmed with other activities,” he said.
Apac district LCV chairman, Asante Odongo blamed the poor loan recovery on leadership wrangles and greed for money. “Imagine from the inception, we have not had any meeting leave alone the annual general meeting [AGM]. They need to call for AGM and members be made to pay new subscription fees, “he said.
Deadline for defaulters
Meanwhile, the Apac resident district commissioner, George Abudul said: “Those leaders are fighting Emyooga,” How can you encourage the public to embrace Emyooga yet you are not leading by example? We have resolved that loans be paid before the 12th of July this year and whoever fails to pay shall be arrested and charged for sabotaging the government programme.”
https://thecooperator.news/apac-parish-chiefs-held-over-sabotaging-pdm/
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