MASINDI-The members of the Lutheran Church in Masindi have officially launched a SACCO, codenamed Bunyoro Lutheran Community Multipurpose SACCO that among others, will support the farming activities of members.
According to Raymond Kaija, the dean of the Lutheran Church Mid-western deanery, their aim is to empower the people both spiritually and economically.
He added that they are also looking at establishing a technical institution to help impart skills among the youth and also a health centre at Kyamujwara cell in Masindi Municipality.
“All these are embedded in our ten-year strategic plan and we intend to achieve them within the timeframe we have set in our strategic plan,” said Kaija.
Recently, Milly Babalanda the Minister for Presidency launched the SACCO, the Shs 1.5 billion church, and the 10-year strategic plan for the mid-western deanery. The function was held at Kihande Cell in Masindi Municipality, Masindi district where the church is located.
Babalanda hailed the Lutheran church for ensuring that its subjects are empowered to carry out income-generating activities.
She asked them to also involve themselves in different government programmes like Emyooga and the Parish Development Model [PDM].
“Involve yourselves in different programmes to complement what you have. These programmes are for people who are small income earners. We cannot continue preaching to the people who are hungry, stressed, and desperate. Our people cannot listen to the gospel on empty stomach,” she said.
For instance, she said that when people have food, they will seek God. “If the gospel for wealth creation is spread throughout all the religious places, you will change this country for the better,” she added.
She promised to link the SACCO leadership to the minister in charge of cooperatives and the minister for microfinance to see how their SACCO will be supported by the government.
Minister Babalanda also promised to ensure that the church leaders meet the president. This was after they requested the minister to help them meet the Head of State.
Babalanda also contributed Five Million Shillings to the SACCO. The function was also attended by the RDCs from Bunyoro Sub-region who also contributed One Million Shillings towards the SACCO.
Stephen Kahumuza, the chairperson Bunyoro Lutheran Multipurpose Church told this reporter that the SACCO started in 2020 and they apparently have over 100 members involved in different economic activities.
He noted that apart from farming and savings and credit, they are also involved in handicraft making.
“I am encouraging the members to join the SACCO and buy shares. The aim of this SACCO is to unite the members such that they can work together for a purpose,” said Kahumuza.
https://thecooperator.news/church-donates-to-300-families-in-napak/
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