KAMPALA – President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to support journalists’ SACCOs across the country. Museveni made the commitment on Saturday in response to a request by leaders of Uganda Journalists Association [UJA].
Museveni was speaking to journalists at the end of a weeklong symposium held at Kyambogo University, Kampala to sensitise journalists on patriotism and socio-economic transformation of the country.
Museveni said he would ask cabinet to allocate resources for the Journalists’ SACCOs to fight poverty.
“I want to commit that we as government shall support your [journalists] SACCOs. This support will be through UJA and then given to the regional journalists’ SACCOs. It will be easier to support the SACCOs in the 18 sub-regions in the country instead of supporting per district,” Museveni noted.
He added,” This money given will be in terms of a grant so that you don’t pay back. But ensure that it’s a revolving fund such that the members can own it and it also benefits other members who may benefit at a later time.”
Journalists welcomed Museveni’s remarks, saying they would ensure that the financial support is not misused by the UJA leaders.
UJA president, Mathias Rukundo said that he would ensure that all journalists’ regional associations form SACCOs to benefit from Museveni’s promised grant.
Rukundo was optimistic that journalists would use the revolving fund to fight poverty amongst themselves, noting that many journalists are not full-time employees.
“That fact that many of us [journalists] are paid per story, we believe that we shall use the support to start enterprises that can fight poverty among us,” he said.
Rukundo also asked Museveni to intervene in the taxation of media houses, which he said, makes employers underpay journalists. However, Museveni was noncommittal on the request, saying media operations are a business and as such, it cannot be exempted from taxation.
On his side, the ICT minister, Chris Baryomunsi, applauded Museveni for his pledge of supporting journalists’ SACCOs, noting that SACCOs are ideal for changing journalists’ lives. “Much as we sent Shs 500 million to every constituency under Emyooga, the journalists say they have never benefited,” the minister said.
According to Emyooga guidelines, journalists are among 18 beneficiary categories of Emyooga funds.
“We shall have to come back to the drawing board to ensure that also journalists benefit from the Emyooga programme,” Baryomunsi added.
The just concluded youth journalists symposium organised by State House attracted more than 600 journalists across Uganda.
https://thecooperator.news/museveni-directs-more-funding-for-banana-factory-in-bushenyi/
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