KWANIA-Hope has been restored in the lives of over 11,000 fishermen on Lake Kwania and Lake Kyoga after benefiting from Emyooga funds that were disbursed to them to boost their fishing activities.
In March 2019, the government suspended fishing activities on Lake Kwania and Lake Kyoga respectively at the request of Lake Kyoga Integrated Management Organisation [LAKIMO] over concerns of depletion of fish species due to poor fishing methods.
Although the government lifted the suspension in July 2022, only fishermen with the recommended boat sizes were allowed to venture into the lake, a restriction which pushed over 11,000 fishermen on Lake Kwania and Lake Kyoga out of the business.
Several fishermen across landing sites in Apac district were unable to procure the required boats, a standard fishing net, and an engine that costs about Shs 2.5 million.
However, in 2021, when the government introduced Emyooga, a group of fishermen in Apalamio landing site in Apoi Sub-county, Apac district formed a SACCO dubbed “Maruzi South Fishermen SACCO” and received Shs 30 mln, money that has brought hope to the fishermen.
Farida Atyang is a member of Maruzi South Fishermen SACCO. Atyang, a fish monger says, “I borrowed Shs 1mln from Emyooga to boost my business. Right now, I have employed six others and I am able to export my fish to DRC.”
Kenneth Okello, a fisherman at Wanysolo landing site in Akokoro Sub-county who was unable to return to the lake borrowed Shs 3mln and secured the required boat size.
“Life has never been easy, I couldn’t provide for my family, I was languishing in poverty but when Emyooga came, I borrowed the money and returned to fishing. I can happily tell you, I have built a three rooms apartment and able to pay school fees for my children,” he said.
The chairperson Maruzi South Fishermen SACCO, Vincent Adelo says from the Shs 30mln wired into their Account by Micro Finance Support Centre [MSC] last year, the SACCO has grown to Shs 60mln loan portfolios. He attributes the successes to regular meetings and accountability.
Maruzi South Fishermen SACCO was named among the best-performing SACCOs in the country by MSC, a government agency that oversees the operations of Emyooga SACCOs in Uganda.
James Ebony Oyuru, the Apac district commercial officer says, “Maruzi South Fishermen SACCO has kept our heads high. It is among the best-performing SACCOs in the country. The SACCO is doing well because of the sufficient training on financial literacy.”
Emyooga is a President Initiative on Job and Wealth Creation. The programme launched by President Yoweri Museveni in 2019 targets Ugandans especially those under 18 clusters that include the boda-boda riders, welders, saloon and taxi operators, journalists, tailors, mechanics, restaurant owners, and fishermen among others.
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