Paa-Apira SACCO transforming livelihoods of members in Northern Uganda

GULU – Farmers in Acholi Sub-region are busy planting maize, rice, sorghum, sim-sim, cassava as the first planting season of the year continues. Notable among the busy farmers are the members of Paa-Apira SACCO translated as “Think About Me SACCO”.

Formed in 2017, the much-cherished SACCO is found in Owoo Sub-county, Gulu district but has helped to improve the livelihoods of members from other districts in Northern Uganda.

According to members, the name Paa-Apira SACCO was adopted in memory of a fallen member who died in a motor accident in 2017 in the suburbs of Gulu Municipality, now Gulu City.

The SACCO started with only five members but the number has now grown to150 and covers the districts of Gulu, Amuru, Nwoya as well as Gulu City.

The SACCO mainly deals in loans for land clearing. “We clear land for farmers at Shs 130, 000 per acre, which is payable after eight months,’’ Gilbert Lubangakene, the chairperson of the SACCO tells this reporter in an interview.

Lubangakene says the major aim of their SACCO is to eradicate poverty at the household level. “We have a situation where people have land but utilising it is a big challenge. We take this as an opportunity and we open up the land them at a fair price,” he says.

“You show us the land to be cleared, and our task is to clear it for you with either a tractor or oxen and ox ploughs, depending on what works for you better.”

He adds: “We give a period of eight months for a member to pay back the loan used in opening up the land. We imagine at that time a farmer should have harvested and sold part of the produce and is able to clear us.”

Apart from offering loans for land opening, the SACCO also gives out loans for other purposes. A loan of Shs 10,000- 50,000 is paid within two months, Shs 60,000-100,000 is paid within three months while Shs 100,000 and above is paid within five months. The SACCO requires no collateral as a condition for a member to be given a loan. All the loans have a monthly interest of 10 percent.

Lubangakene however says the SACCO also gives loans for motorcycles, grinding mills, threshers and mowers.

He says: You identify what you need, and it is purchased for you and you are given a period of between five to six months to repay depending on how much money has been given to you.”

Alice Alaka, 67, says opening her land for production has become easy with the loans provided by Paa-Apira SACCO.

“Due to my advanced age, it is hard for me to use a hand hoe to clear the land, yet getting a loan from commercial banks is hard since they ask for collateral. Paa-Apira SACCO has been able to support me without any hurdles,” Alaka says, adding she always negotiates for the extension of the loan repayment period in case she fails to get all the money.

Alaka who grows indigenous crops like groundnuts, millet and sim-sim, says they are not labour-intensive. “I have been able to educate my son and my grandchildren with ease. Having the basic items in my home is no longer a difficult for me,’’ she says.

Justine Nantume who joined the SACCO three years ago says it has brought a smile in her face. “I am glad that this SACCO listens whenever you reach out to them with a financial problem,” she says.

She adds: “I have been part of it [Paa-Apira SACCO] for the last three years and I have been able to buy tangible assets.”

Mukama Nyeko, the brain behind Paa-Apira SACCO says he developed the idea when women who breadwinners for their families were going through hardships in fulfilling their responsibilities.

“Several farmers, especially women were struggling to open up their farmlands and maintain their families. That is how I came up with the idea of forming the SACCO.

The SACCO has worked out and several members have had their livelihoods changed, especially women. Many women can now easily pay school fees for their children while others have opened up side businesses which was not the case in the past, Mukama says.

He however decried the unpredictable weather that at times disrupts farming activities, making some members to incur losses and therefore unable to pay their loans.

“We are consulting with the commercial officer to advise us on taking up crop insurance so that farmers can be compensated when the weather fails their crops,’’ he says.

But Mukama says Paa-Apira SACCO still gives a helping hand to its members irrespective of whether they are experiencing good or bad times.

The LCI chairperson Rwot-Obilo, Wana Bidesto notes that the SACCO has helped to fight idleness among the youth in the area, as many have been supported to take up farming as a business unlike in the past when they would waste time on gambling.

“The youth had resorted to gambling but when Paa-Apira SACCO came into play, the youth came onboard and they have been able showcase their capability in farming.

Joan Achiro, a resident of Purongo in Nwoya district, notes the SACCO gave her Shs 600,000 loan which she used to acquire a manual grinding mill for groundnuts and sim-sim. She is happy that today is generating more income from her business.

https://thecooperator.news/2023-2024-budget-govt-earmarks-over-shs-1trn-for-saccos/

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