The State Minister for Microfinance and Small Enterprises, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo has ordered Emyooga SACCOs to stop paying for audit services with immediate effect.
He made directives on Thursday while addressing Emyooga SACCO and political leaders in Hoima West Division in Hoima City.
Minister Kasolo who is currently traversing Bunyoro region to monitor the performance of Emyooga programme was shocked after Emyooga beneficiaries told him they were being forced to pay Shs 280, 000 audit services.
Sarah Kyalisima, the treasure of Bugahya Local Constituency Emyooga SACCO, and Regina Nakabirwa treasurer of Market Vendors Bugahya Emyooga SACCO said they recently received a call from someone demanding Shs 280,000 before he could come to audit their books of account.
Nakabirwa said that some of their colleagues already paid the money, adding they are waiting for the private auditor to come and do his work.
Minister Kasolo explained that paying audit fees will interrupt the progress of the Emyooga programme and ordered that SACCOs that had already paid be refunded their money.
He noted that the district auditors should be used instead of hiring private firms to do the job.
He added: “I am the one in charge of Emyooga programme, so anybody who wants to implement anything regarding this programme must seek my authorisation. I do not want to hear again anything about Emyooga SACCOs paying money for audit services.”
He noted that the presidential initiative should not be sabotaged by anyone seeking personal interests.
However, an official from Uganda Microfinance Support Centre who preferred anonymity explained that recently the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives [MITC] passed a resolution to use private firms to audit Emyooga SACCOs so that they could have their registration updated.
The source added the registration certificates of most of the Emyooga SACCOs have expired and that they need to be audited before renewing their registration, a process that he said is supposed to be done by external auditors who must be paid by the SACCOs.
He noted MITC pre-qualified several audit firms to carry out the exercise and wondered why Minister Kasolo made such directives.
“SACCOs are governed by Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives which has guidelines for SACCOS. The law is clear, they [SACCOs] must apply and renew their certificates and they cannot apply without an audit report,” another source said.
Meanwhile, Helen Murumba, the Hoima district councilor for workers commended Minister Kasolo for intervening in the matter. She noted that Emyooga SACCOs don’t have the money to spend on audit services.
She added several Emyooga beneficiaries have been complaining about the charges, adding that the minister’s directive is a relief to them.
Dr. Joseph Ruyonga the Member of Parliament for Hoima west division underscored a need to support beneficiaries to grow the SACCOs. He also challenged the beneficiaries to own the Emyooga programme.
https://thecooperator.news/govt-to-hire-offices-for-emyooga-saccos/
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