Emyooga registering successes in Lango, Acholi -MSC official

LIRA – The Lira and Gulu Zonal manager of Microfinance Support Centre [MSC], Mable Nabadda has downplayed the negative claims that the Emyooga programme, a Presidential Initiative on Job and Wealth Creation has failed to deliver the intended results, saying that successes of the programme continue to be registered, despite some challenges.

She said their records show the programme has had some successes in Lango and Acholi Sub-regions and that five SACCO groups have been lined up to receive additional seed capital of Shs 20 million each.

According to Nabadda, since the inception of Emyooga programme, MSC has disbursed Shs 19 billion as seed capital to support 3,107 groups and 44,714 individuals, though she said they have managed to recover Shs 4.6bln.

She noted that as some Emyooga groups show successes, others face challenges of high default rates, multiple borrowing, poor saving culture, loan diversion and poor record keeping.

“We have not failed but off-course you cannot stop to hear such from different communities. If it has failed you would not hear testimonies from the beneficiaries and also RDCs talking about the programme,” she said.

She said the programme has never failed, adding that some of the SACCOs in the country would soon get additional seed capital to enhance their businesses.

“Not all SACCOs are performing at the same level but even those are poorly performing, we shall not give up on them,” she said.

Thomas Odongo, the secretary Apac Municipal Emyooga SACCO said he was happy with the programme that has enabled them to engage in income-generating activities.

He said Shs 30mln seed capital they received has enhanced their lending capacity while making them generate some reasonable interest.

Emyooga was launched in August 2019 as part of the broad government strategy targeting to transform 68 percent of households from subsistence to market-oriented production with the overall objective of promoting job creation and improving household incomes.

The initiative is centred on various 18 categories/ enterprises covering the majority of the hitherto, financially excluded Ugandans engaged in similar specialised enterprise categories.

The enterprises targeted in this programme include: Boda Bodas SACCOs, Women entrepreneurs SACCOs, carpenters SACCOs, salon operators SACCOs, taxi operators SACCOs, restaurant owners SACCOs, welders SACCOs, market vendors SACCOs and youth leaders SACCOs

Others being supported are persons with disabilities [PWDs] SACCOs, produce dealers SACCOs, mechanics SACCOs, tailors SACCOs, journalists SACCOs, performing artists SACCOs, veterans [veteran widows and orphaned children] SACCOs, fishermen SACCOs and elected leaders SACCOs.

These groups are facilitated with both technical and financial support to enhance the performance of their projects, and ultimately their incomes.

The initiative was designed to step up direct support to communities through the establishment of specialised funds/Emyooga-specific Apex SACCOs at the constituency level covering 149 districts countrywide, but with operations at the parish level.

MSC works collaboratively with the district Emyooga taskforces that were set up in each district and chaired by the Resident District Commissioners/Resident City Commissioners. District local governments, as well as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives [MTIC], among others, are also involved in this programme.

https://thecooperator.news/kwania-north-pwds-sacco-gets-extral-emyooga-fund/

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