ACHOLI – Journalists in Acholi sub-region have asked Gulu District Local Government to support them with financial literacy training.
Felix Ochola Okun, the Chairperson of Kacel Watwero Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) that is comprised of mainly journalists, said that journalists lack financial discipline.
Okun who was speaking during the VSLA’s savings’ box opening on Saturday noted that, “We loaned out Shs 35 million to members in 2021 but many of our members had challenges in paying back the money.”
The group that was created out of Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) in 2012 has 50 members.
Its aim is to provide a platform for journalists to save and borrow money for investment and pressing needs like school fees and health care among others.
Okun also asked the district to include journalists in the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the fourth phase of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) which is expected to kick off in June 2022.
NUSAF is a World Bank-funded development project to boost the development of districts in Northern Uganda and some parts in the East, West Nile and Karamoja sub-region that have particularly been hit by war, drought, and cattle cattle-rustling.
The first NUSAF worth $133m, started in 2003 and ended in March 2010 while the second phase, worth $100m, was approved in May 2010 and implementation started on 25 November of the same year with each of the phases expected to last five years.
Vicky Atim, the Vice Chairperson Gulu district in response asked the journalists to be in organized groups if they want to benefit from government programs like the Parish Development Model.
“Every citizen and that includes journalists have a right to benefit from the government programs. Just find organized groups where you can join,” she said.
Atim also promised to forward the journalists’ request for financial literacy training to the council and area members of parliament.
President Yoweri Museveni is on February 26, 2022 expected to launch the Parish Development Model (PDM) worth Shs 490 billion in Kibuku district.
PDM is meant to eradicate poverty through execution of development activities at the parishes.
Raphael Magyezi, the Minister of Local Government during the House sitting on February 15, 2022 said people will access the money through parish Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs).
https://thecooperator.news/government-starts-registering-pwds-for-national-ids/
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