SOROTI, December 15, 2025 — The Microfinance Support Centre [ MSC ] has entered into a collaboration aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of the Ateker community in the Teso sub-region.
The partnership was highlighted during a meeting of Emyooga Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations [SACCOs] from Soroti, Kumi, Bukedea, Amuria and Serere, held at the Iteso Cultural Union [ICU] headquarters in Soroti City. The ICU is the official cultural institution of the Iteso people of Uganda, Kenya and the diaspora.
The meeting brought together ICU elders, officials from the MSC and members of the regional security team to assess progress and address challenges under the Emyooga programme.
Established in 2001, the MSC is a government agency that provides affordable credit and business development services to Emyooga SACCOs and other organised groups in Uganda.
The MSC Regional Manager for Eastern Uganda, Francis Elwok, said the agency continues to train business groups, including SACCO members, to help them grow into stronger and more sustainable enterprises. He revealed that the government has injected more than Shs 20 billion into Emyooga SACCOs across the Teso Sub-region.
Joseph Tukamushaba, Head of the Emyooga Secretariat at MSC, said the collaboration with the ICU is intended to ensure government programmes deliver real impact from the grassroots to the national level and contribute meaningfully to transforming livelihoods.
Tukamushaba stressed that tackling poverty requires engagement in productive economic activities.
“I am optimistic about the Microfinance Support Centre’s initiative to provide working capital to the Ateker community on favourable terms, including an interest rate of eight per cent, aimed at boosting established enterprises and promoting growth,” he said.
He advised communities in Teso to prioritise local production over imports and encouraged the Ateker community to form organised groups to access the support and drive economic development.
The Serere Resident District Commissioner [RDC], John Steven Ekoom, speaking on behalf of RDCs in the region, appealed to communities to form associations so they can access loans and work closely with their RDCs in the fight against poverty.
“I want to encourage the Ateker communities to take advantage of Emyooga. Go back and form groups so that you can benefit,” Ekoom said.
He noted that many individuals have struggled with commercial bank loans, often losing property and land, and in some cases facing arrest due to high interest rates, highlighting the need for more accessible and affordable financial options.
During the engagement, several Emyooga SACCOs showcased their achievements and shared testimonies of how the programme has transformed their households.
Anna Akwii, a beneficiary from Amuria County, encouraged women to seize the Emyooga programme as an opportunity to uplift their families.
She shared her personal experience, explaining how the funds had improved her livelihood, and urged fellow women to become economically self-reliant rather than depending on others for financial support.
“By embracing Emyooga, I believe women can make a tangible impact on their households and communities,” Akwii said.
The Deputy Prime Minister of the ICU, John Stephen Okiror, welcomed the initiative and encouraged the Ateker community to utilise the opportunity effectively.
He assured continued engagement with the Iteso community to ensure the programme’s benefits are widespread.
“We have already registered 1,300 Ateker groups in the central region, but I continue to encourage others to join SACCOs,” Okiror said.
He pledged to oversee and support the project to ensure the funds are utilised effectively, benefiting the entire Ateker community and enhancing their livelihoods.
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