BUKWO, May 30, 2024 – The State Minister for Finance for Microfinance, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo has revealed that the government will start naming and shaming Emyooga fund defaulters on radio stations, saying this will help government to recover the funds from non-compliant beneficiaries.
The Minister made the remarks yesterday during the ongoing countrywide tour for monitoring and evaluation of Emyooga programme, at Kameti Primary School playgrounds in Kameti Sub-county, Bukwo district, Sebei Sub-region.
The Emyooga programme, launched in August 2019, is a presidential initiative aimed at wealth and job creation. It seeks to transform 68 percent of homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production.
Data shows that Bukwo district also found in Eastern Uganda has 36 Emyooga SACCOs which were formed in 2021.
For the first phase, each Emyooga SACCO in the country received Shs 30 million, except for Local Leaders SACCOs which received Shs 50mln each.
Minister Kasolo instructed the district commercial officer to compile a list of defaulters who have failed to repay the Emyooga funds beyond two years.
“If you don’t want to be embarrassed or humiliated, go to the bank and pay the money to be removed from the list,” he said.
On his part, Bessie Modester Ajilong, the Resident District Commissioner Bukwo, confirmed that the recovery rate of Emyooga funds in the district is low.
She noted that some beneficiaries mistakenly believed that the funds were a gift rather than a loan.
“The district remains committed to recovering the funds,” she added.
Rita Namuwenge, National Coordinator of Emyooga Programme, emphasised that the funds are a revolving loan, not a grant.
Namuwenge who is also the Parish Development Model [PDM] Consultant for Eastern Uganda, said that the defaulters must pay back the money.
She warned that defaulters would be arrested if they fail to comply. The Minister will also visit Kween district found also in Sebei Sub-region to see how the Emyooga Programme has progressed.
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