HOIMA CITY, March 8, 2025 –– As the world marks the International Women’s Day today themed ‘Accelerate Action’, in Hoima City, women benefiting from government’s Emyooga programme are calling it a life-changer, a programme that has taken them from “grass to grace.” Initially designed to empower women and eradicate poverty, the Emyooga programme is having a profound impact, transforming the lives of participants and improving their economic standing.
Launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in August 2019 as part of a broader strategy to move 68 percent of Ugandan households from subsistence farming to market-oriented production, the Emyooga programme is also aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and encouraging a culture of saving.
To benefit from the programme, women must join a Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies [SACCOs] in their constituencies, commonly known as Emyooga SACCOs whose members are specialised groups such as women, welders, taxi drivers, journalists, salonists, market vendors, restaurant owners, electricians, and plumbers among others, .
Jovia Katusabe, the Chairperson of the Hoima East Tailors Emyooga SACCO, shares her excitement about the tangible effects the programme has had on her members. The SACCO, which is based in Hoima East Division, was given an initial capital of Shs 30 million in 2021. Due to the SACCO’s financial discipline and good management, government granted an additional Shs 20 million in 2022 and another Shs 20 million in December 2024, bringing the total to Shs 70 million.
“We’ve seen incredible growth,” Katusabe says. “These funds have helped us grow our businesses and allowed us to purchase a brand-new vehicle, number UBL 712A, which now generates money for the SACCO through transportation services.” This success is a testament to the power of the programme` to encourage financial discipline and create sustainable income streams that also help create jobs and wealth within the communities.
The Hoima East Tailors Emyooga SACCO now has 104 members from six associations. Collectively, they have disbursed over Shs207 million in loans to members, with an interest of Shs 23.6 million generated so far. The loans, offered at an 8 percent interest rate, have helped members avoid high-interest loans from money lenders. “On these loans, we’ve already recovered Shs 236.7 million,” Katusabe says, emphasising the programme’s success in creating a sustainable economic cycle for participants.
However, challenges remain. Katusabe notes that some members have failed to repay their loans, claiming the money was a political bonus. As a result, they are currently seeking Shs 12.4 million from defaulting members. Despite this, the SACCO has seen remarkable success in savings, with members having saved Shs 69.7 million and accumulated a share capital of Shs 23.25 million.
One of the key factors behind the success is the diversification of savings options. “We introduced emergency and voluntary saving methods alongside the mandatory saving programmes, and this has encouraged members to save more,” Katusabe explains.
Thanks to these savings, many members have been able to expand their businesses. Some have gone from owning a single tailoring machine to owning three or four, while others have rented rooms to operate their businesses professionally. Additionally, several women have started businesses such as poultry, piggery, and goat rearing.
For example, Gorete Kemigisa, a member of the SACCO, credits the Emyooga programme with transforming her life. A single mother, Kemigisa struggled to pay school fees for her two children before joining the SACCO. Now, she can afford to pay for their education and has even bought tailoring machines that have boosted her income. “With the loans I get from the SACCO, I’ve been able to pay for and own half a plot of land in Hoima City, as well as an acre of land in Bugambe Sub-county in Kikuube district,” Kemigisa says. “I also have poultry and goats as additional sources of income.”
Florance Asaba, the chairperson of the Hoima West Women Entrepreneurs SACCO, is equally enthusiastic about the programme’s impact. She commends President Museveni for initiating a scheme that provides low-interest loans to women. “The Emyooga programme has given poor women the opportunity to boost their businesses or start new ones. It has helped us transition from subsistence to a money economy,” Asaba explains.
The Hoima West Women Entrepreneurs SACCO, with a membership of 420, has also benefitted from government seed capital. The SACCO initially received Shs 30 million, followed by an additional Shs 20 million for its good performance. To date, they have disbursed Shs 187 million in loans to 140 members across six associations.
Despite the overall success, Asaba highlights that some members have claimed that the funds are a “bonus” from the president and therefore do not feel the need to repay the loans. This has presented challenges in loan recovery, slowing the pace of further growth.
Nonetheless, the future looks bright for these women, who are leveraging their newfound financial independence to create lasting change in their communities. Plans are already in motion to expand their businesses into larger industries, such as converting their tailoring workshops into a textile industry capable of producing garments for export. Additionally, members are looking into registering their SACCO permanently, opening the door to further financial opportunities.
The Emyooga programme, as it continues to evolve, is proving to be a lifeline for many women in Hoima, enabling them to transcend the limitations of their previous lives and move toward greater financial independence and security. From grassroots savings and small businesses to expanding enterprises, the programme is delivering on its promise of “grass to grace,” transforming the lives of women in Hoima and beyond.
https://thecooperator.news/international-womens-day-rwampara-women-reap-big-from-emyooga-programme/
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