Kitgum Emyooga SACCOs receive Shs 520mln in additional seed capital to boost businesses
The Kitgum Deputy Resident District Commissioner [RDC], Walter Komakech, announced the latest disbursement of the money during a meeting with leaders of all 54 Emyooga SACCOs held at the Kitgum District Council Hall on Monday
KITGUM, July 15, 2026 — Twenty-six Emyooga SACCOs in Kitgum district, northern Uganda, have received a total of Shs 520 million in additional seed capital, with each SACCO receiving Shs 20 million of the money to strengthen businesses of members.
The Kitgum Deputy Resident District Commissioner [RDC], Walter Komakech, announced the latest disbursement of the money during a meeting with leaders of all 54 Emyooga SACCOs held at the Kitgum District Council Hall on Monday.
Emyooga is a government wealth and job creation programme launched in August 2019 to support 18 specialised enterprise groups, including boda boda riders, mechanics, welders, carpenters, taxi operators, plumbers, hairdressers, and restaurant owners, among others.
The programme aims to provide affordable capital, promote savings, and support small businesses at constituency level as part of efforts to reduce household poverty.
Kitgum district has 54 Emyooga SACCOs, which are evenly distributed across its three political constituencies — Kitgum Municipality, Chua West, and Chua East. Each constituency has 18 SACCOs.
According to Komakech, the 26 SACCOs that received the top-up of Shs 20mln each, were selected based on their performance and compliance with Emyooga requirements.
“Those who have since received the additional seed capital are among the best-performing SACCOs under Emyooga in Kitgum District,” Komakech said.
He cited the Kitgum Municipal Tailoring Emyooga SACCO, Kitgum Municipal Performing Artists Emyooga SACCO, and Kitgum Veterans Emyooga SACCO as some of the beneficiaries.
The latest disbursement from the government-owned Microfinance Support Centre [MSC], bringing the total Emyooga funds received by Kitgum district to more than Shs 2.1 billion.
Kitgum District Emyooga Coordinator, Ibrahim Okeny, explained that the district initially received more than Shs 1.6 billion, with each of the 54 SACCOs receiving Shs 30 million.
“Later, 28 SACCO groups were cleared to receive Shs 560 million, with each group receiving Shs 20 million as additional seed capital,” Okeny said.
Records indicate that 26 groups have so far accessed the additional Shs 20 million top-up.
However, some SACCOs have not been able to apply for the additional funding due to challenges in recovering loans previously issued to members.
James Omara, a leader of the Chua West Boda Boda Emyooga SACCO, said they are yet to start the application process for the additional Shs 20 million. He explained that difficulties in tracing members had affected loan recovery efforts.
“When the Shs 30 million was distributed to members, some of them disappeared, making it difficult for leaders to recover the funds. This could be one of the obstacles preventing us from receiving the additional seed capital, since accountability is a key requirement,” Omara said.
Komakech said the remaining 28 SACCOs are at different stages of the application process.
“Among the groups that have not yet received the additional seed capital, some have applied and are waiting for disbursement, others are still processing their applications, while some are yet to begin the process,” he said.
He urged SACCOs that have not completed their applications to do so before the July 20, 2026 deadline.
“I urge all SACCO groups that are yet to complete the process of applying for the additional seed capital to do so before July 20, 2026, because their money is lying idle at the bank,” Komakech warned.
He emphasised that Emyooga was established to increase household incomes and create employment opportunities, adding that the government would not tolerate misuse or diversion of the funds.
Komakech said district officials would conduct follow-ups and provide support clinics to help the remaining SACCOs in Kitgum Municipality, Chua West, and Chua East complete the necessary requirements before the deadline.
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