Parish Development Model: Minister Magyezi down plays need for legislation

The Minister of Local Government, Hon Raphael Magyezi has said, there is no need to put in place new legislation to facilitate the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Magyezi appeared before the Local Government Committee where he presented the guidelines of the Parish Development Model.

The guidelines tabled before the committee has seven pillars namely; agriculture value chain development, infrastructure and economic services, financial inclusion, social services, and community mobilisation and mindset change.

The others are parish-based information management systems, governance and administration.

According to Magyezi, the model will be implemented through the Parish Revolving Fund which will be Shs 17 million per parish in the financial year 2021/22 and Shs100 million for the next financial year per parish.

According to Magyezi, they have a recovery mechanism which is the core of the programme.

However, Members of Parliament expressed dissatisfaction about the programme with many arguing that it was rushed without guidelines and adequate legislation.

Bukimbiri County MP, Hon Eddie Kwizera said, since the parish model is a long-term programme, there is a need for a bill by the government that will ensure its operationalisation.

“This is a long-term project and it requires a law; if someone mismanages the project, what will happen? The Attorney General needs to bring a bill to Parliament, the same way the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program is working,” he said.

However, Minister Magyezi said, there is no need for new legislation for the parish model as they are already operating within the local governance structures and law.

“We are implementing the Parish Development model under the structures of local governments; we are currently working with the Attorney General, and we appreciate your guidance on the matter,” Magyezi said.

The Committee Chairperson, Hon Godfrey Onzima said it is unfortunate that serious government programmes start without guidelines.

“We don’t give time to systematically start our projects. People are being given Shs 17 million and roads are being opened but we are still working on the guidelines,” Onzima said.

Bugweri District Woman Representative, Hon Rachel Magoola said, the government is rotating around the same structure that has failed including Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme among others.

She added that the government needs to slow down and adequately plan for the programme before implementing it.

President Museveni launched the Parish Development Model last weekend. Under the program, this financial year, each sub-county will receive Shs 17 million and then receive Shs 100 million in the next financial year.

https://thecooperator.news/mbarara-city-launches-property-tax-validation-to-raise-shs9b-from-local-revenue-collection/

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Parish Development Model: Minister Magyezi down plays need for legislation

The Minister of Local Government, Hon Raphael Magyezi has said, there is no need to put in place new legislation to facilitate the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Magyezi appeared before the Local Government Committee where he presented the guidelines of the Parish Development Model.

The guidelines tabled before the committee has seven pillars namely; agriculture value chain development, infrastructure and economic services, financial inclusion, social services, and community mobilisation and mindset change.

The others are parish-based information management systems, governance and administration.

According to Magyezi, the model will be implemented through the Parish Revolving Fund which will be Shs 17 million per parish in the financial year 2021/22 and Shs100 million for the next financial year per parish.

According to Magyezi, they have a recovery mechanism which is the core of the programme.

However, Members of Parliament expressed dissatisfaction about the programme with many arguing that it was rushed without guidelines and adequate legislation.

Bukimbiri County MP, Hon Eddie Kwizera said, since the parish model is a long-term programme, there is a need for a bill by the government that will ensure its operationalisation.

“This is a long-term project and it requires a law; if someone mismanages the project, what will happen? The Attorney General needs to bring a bill to Parliament, the same way the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program is working,” he said.

However, Minister Magyezi said, there is no need for new legislation for the parish model as they are already operating within the local governance structures and law.

“We are implementing the Parish Development model under the structures of local governments; we are currently working with the Attorney General, and we appreciate your guidance on the matter,” Magyezi said.

The Committee Chairperson, Hon Godfrey Onzima said it is unfortunate that serious government programmes start without guidelines.

“We don’t give time to systematically start our projects. People are being given Shs 17 million and roads are being opened but we are still working on the guidelines,” Onzima said.

Bugweri District Woman Representative, Hon Rachel Magoola said, the government is rotating around the same structure that has failed including Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme among others.

She added that the government needs to slow down and adequately plan for the programme before implementing it.

President Museveni launched the Parish Development Model last weekend. Under the program, this financial year, each sub-county will receive Shs 17 million and then receive Shs 100 million in the next financial year.

https://thecooperator.news/mbarara-city-launches-property-tax-validation-to-raise-shs9b-from-local-revenue-collection/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

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Parish Development Model: Minister Magyezi down plays need for legislation

The Minister of Local Government, Hon Raphael Magyezi has said, there is no need to put in place new legislation to facilitate the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Magyezi appeared before the Local Government Committee where he presented the guidelines of the Parish Development Model.

The guidelines tabled before the committee has seven pillars namely; agriculture value chain development, infrastructure and economic services, financial inclusion, social services, and community mobilisation and mindset change.

The others are parish-based information management systems, governance and administration.

According to Magyezi, the model will be implemented through the Parish Revolving Fund which will be Shs 17 million per parish in the financial year 2021/22 and Shs100 million for the next financial year per parish.

According to Magyezi, they have a recovery mechanism which is the core of the programme.

However, Members of Parliament expressed dissatisfaction about the programme with many arguing that it was rushed without guidelines and adequate legislation.

Bukimbiri County MP, Hon Eddie Kwizera said, since the parish model is a long-term programme, there is a need for a bill by the government that will ensure its operationalisation.

“This is a long-term project and it requires a law; if someone mismanages the project, what will happen? The Attorney General needs to bring a bill to Parliament, the same way the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program is working,” he said.

However, Minister Magyezi said, there is no need for new legislation for the parish model as they are already operating within the local governance structures and law.

“We are implementing the Parish Development model under the structures of local governments; we are currently working with the Attorney General, and we appreciate your guidance on the matter,” Magyezi said.

The Committee Chairperson, Hon Godfrey Onzima said it is unfortunate that serious government programmes start without guidelines.

“We don’t give time to systematically start our projects. People are being given Shs 17 million and roads are being opened but we are still working on the guidelines,” Onzima said.

Bugweri District Woman Representative, Hon Rachel Magoola said, the government is rotating around the same structure that has failed including Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme among others.

She added that the government needs to slow down and adequately plan for the programme before implementing it.

President Museveni launched the Parish Development Model last weekend. Under the program, this financial year, each sub-county will receive Shs 17 million and then receive Shs 100 million in the next financial year.

https://thecooperator.news/mbarara-city-launches-property-tax-validation-to-raise-shs9b-from-local-revenue-collection/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country- wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

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Amuru authorities issue fresh ban on makeshift structures at Elegu Border Market

AMURU – Authorities in Amuru district have banned traders at Elegu Border Market from erecting new makeshift structures at the market following a fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth billions of shillings.

The fire which according to reports is the 30th incident since 2013 is estimated to have cost traders Shs 3 billion.

The 2:20am fire reportedly started from a makeshift shop where a trader was frying fish before it spread to other shops destroying merchandise in wholesale shops, drugs shops and produce premises among others.

Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson Amuru District said, traders will now be allocated plots on which they will construct permanent buildings instead of makeshift structures which are prone to fire outbreaks.

“We intend to shift the business community out of that place to a regulated area where each trader will be allocated a plot and they will utilize the plot for a longer time,” Lakony said adding that the district has 250 acres of land for that purpose.

The new area in question is 30 meters away from the current market.

“We intend to do it for the safety of traders and their properties. It will be regulated to stop fire outbreaks which have become routine,” he added.

Majority of the business premises in Elegu Border Market are made out of corrugated iron sheets for both the walls and the roof.

However in 2017, Amuru District issued a similar ban after fire destroyed property worth over Shs3 billion.

That ban was never effected as traders quickly rebuilt their makeshift structures and resumed business.

Lakony said that effecting the ban was hindered by several reasons including interference from presidential assistants in the region and non-compliance from traders to vacate the current premises where they were not paying any taxes.

The border town in Amuru district that has more than 2,600 traders mostly from Uganda lies just 100 metres from the South Sudanese border town of Nimule.

Lakony told theCooperator news that this time round, traders will be evicted if they refuse to leave peacefully.

“If they fail to heed to our directives, we will use minimum force to evict them,” he said.

The Chairperson also said they were starting work on the new market location immediately adding that a grader was to start clearing the area while registration of traders for easy allocation of plots had also been commissioned.

On Friday, a team from the committee of finance from Parliament visited the area to assess the damage left by the fire.

Kovuki John Idra-the L.C111 Chairperson Elegu Town Council supports the move saying, Elegu Border Market has been too congested making it difficult for access in case of fire.

“The market has been too congested with no access for vehicles. Our plan of the new market is that there should be access in case of any fire, fire brigade should be able to move and put out fire easily,” Kovuki said.

Okema Michael Opilo, a trader at Elegu Border Market welcomed the initiative but called on the Central government to build permanent buildings there.

“For us as traders, we are interested in doing business in Elegu so government should come out and build for us a proper market,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/20-cattle-die-of-suspected-poisoning-in-lira-city/

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Amuru authorities issue fresh ban on makeshift structures at Elegu Border Market

AMURU – Authorities in Amuru district have banned traders at Elegu Border Market from erecting new makeshift structures at the market following a fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth billions of shillings.

The fire which according to reports is the 30th incident since 2013 is estimated to have cost traders Shs 3 billion.

The 2:20am fire reportedly started from a makeshift shop where a trader was frying fish before it spread to other shops destroying merchandise in wholesale shops, drugs shops and produce premises among others.

Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson Amuru District said, traders will now be allocated plots on which they will construct permanent buildings instead of makeshift structures which are prone to fire outbreaks.

“We intend to shift the business community out of that place to a regulated area where each trader will be allocated a plot and they will utilize the plot for a longer time,” Lakony said adding that the district has 250 acres of land for that purpose.

The new area in question is 30 meters away from the current market.

“We intend to do it for the safety of traders and their properties. It will be regulated to stop fire outbreaks which have become routine,” he added.

Majority of the business premises in Elegu Border Market are made out of corrugated iron sheets for both the walls and the roof.

However in 2017, Amuru District issued a similar ban after fire destroyed property worth over Shs3 billion.

That ban was never effected as traders quickly rebuilt their makeshift structures and resumed business.

Lakony said that effecting the ban was hindered by several reasons including interference from presidential assistants in the region and non-compliance from traders to vacate the current premises where they were not paying any taxes.

The border town in Amuru district that has more than 2,600 traders mostly from Uganda lies just 100 metres from the South Sudanese border town of Nimule.

Lakony told theCooperator news that this time round, traders will be evicted if they refuse to leave peacefully.

“If they fail to heed to our directives, we will use minimum force to evict them,” he said.

The Chairperson also said they were starting work on the new market location immediately adding that a grader was to start clearing the area while registration of traders for easy allocation of plots had also been commissioned.

On Friday, a team from the committee of finance from Parliament visited the area to assess the damage left by the fire.

Kovuki John Idra-the L.C111 Chairperson Elegu Town Council supports the move saying, Elegu Border Market has been too congested making it difficult for access in case of fire.

“The market has been too congested with no access for vehicles. Our plan of the new market is that there should be access in case of any fire, fire brigade should be able to move and put out fire easily,” Kovuki said.

Okema Michael Opilo, a trader at Elegu Border Market welcomed the initiative but called on the Central government to build permanent buildings there.

“For us as traders, we are interested in doing business in Elegu so government should come out and build for us a proper market,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/20-cattle-die-of-suspected-poisoning-in-lira-city/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

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Amuru authorities issue fresh ban on makeshift structures at Elegu Border Market

AMURU – Authorities in Amuru district have banned traders at Elegu Border Market from erecting new makeshift structures at the market following a fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth billions of shillings.

The fire which according to reports is the 30th incident since 2013 is estimated to have cost traders Shs 3 billion.

The 2:20am fire reportedly started from a makeshift shop where a trader was frying fish before it spread to other shops destroying merchandise in wholesale shops, drugs shops and produce premises among others.

Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson Amuru District said, traders will now be allocated plots on which they will construct permanent buildings instead of makeshift structures which are prone to fire outbreaks.

“We intend to shift the business community out of that place to a regulated area where each trader will be allocated a plot and they will utilize the plot for a longer time,” Lakony said adding that the district has 250 acres of land for that purpose.

The new area in question is 30 meters away from the current market.

“We intend to do it for the safety of traders and their properties. It will be regulated to stop fire outbreaks which have become routine,” he added.

Majority of the business premises in Elegu Border Market are made out of corrugated iron sheets for both the walls and the roof.

However in 2017, Amuru District issued a similar ban after fire destroyed property worth over Shs3 billion.

That ban was never effected as traders quickly rebuilt their makeshift structures and resumed business.

Lakony said that effecting the ban was hindered by several reasons including interference from presidential assistants in the region and non-compliance from traders to vacate the current premises where they were not paying any taxes.

The border town in Amuru district that has more than 2,600 traders mostly from Uganda lies just 100 metres from the South Sudanese border town of Nimule.

Lakony told theCooperator news that this time round, traders will be evicted if they refuse to leave peacefully.

“If they fail to heed to our directives, we will use minimum force to evict them,” he said.

The Chairperson also said they were starting work on the new market location immediately adding that a grader was to start clearing the area while registration of traders for easy allocation of plots had also been commissioned.

On Friday, a team from the committee of finance from Parliament visited the area to assess the damage left by the fire.

Kovuki John Idra-the L.C111 Chairperson Elegu Town Council supports the move saying, Elegu Border Market has been too congested making it difficult for access in case of fire.

“The market has been too congested with no access for vehicles. Our plan of the new market is that there should be access in case of any fire, fire brigade should be able to move and put out fire easily,” Kovuki said.

Okema Michael Opilo, a trader at Elegu Border Market welcomed the initiative but called on the Central government to build permanent buildings there.

“For us as traders, we are interested in doing business in Elegu so government should come out and build for us a proper market,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/20-cattle-die-of-suspected-poisoning-in-lira-city/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

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Re-allocate Emyooga funds to local government accounts systems

GULU – The Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Gulu, Denis Odongpiny has urged the government to re-allocate Emyooga funds from the Microfinance Support Centre to the Ministry of Finance and release it through the local government accounts system.

The Office of the RCC is charged with the responsibility of monitoring, supervising and evaluating the Emyooga programme.

“While the President has assigned us with the supervision of the project, let’s not forget that we don’t have the mechanisms for accountability and that is where we have concerns,” Odongpiny added.

This same view is held by Gulu City Town Clerk, Moses Otimong, who said that council has no legal mandate to monitor, supervise and account for funds that are not reflected in the national budget.

“I can’t be held responsible to account for funds I am green about; and above all the money doesn’t come in a manner that we can monitor,” Otimong explained.

https://thecooperator.news/msc-tasks-leaders-to-sort-emyooga-program-challenges/

Otimong further urged the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to restructure Emyooga into the local government system to avoid abuse and corruption in the project.

The ambiguity of the legal frameworks surrounding the Presidential Initiative on Wealth Creation, Emyooga program, has continued to leave questions on accountability mechanisms in the project.

The government has entrusted the Microfinance Support Centre with the implementation of the project which is directly charged with financing the enterprises selected under the project.

The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development released Shs 260 billion to support the project through the Microfinance Support Centre.

Gulu City Council (GCC) among other implementing local government systems was allocated Shs 1.1 billion which was received on July 06, 2021 to support the 438 different groups within the City.

However, technocrats and top government officials have sighted mistrust, bureaucracy and the unclear legal frameworks as hindrances to the progress of the implementation of the project.

Whereas the Resident District Commissioners (RDC) and the Resident City Commissioners (RCC) are mandated to oversee the implementation of the project, accountability mechanisms have not been established.

Gulu City Council Commercial Officer, Catherine Lanyero who presented the report to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) raised concerns on lack of legal policy frameworks.

Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Bardege-Layibi Division Member of Parliament and two other area Members of Parliament in the city met with city authorities over the uncertainties surrounding the project on Wednesday 11th August, 2021.

Lanyero revealed that only 36 of the 438 groups who applied for the different projects and enterprises received funding, adding that the majority failed to meet the conditions to access the loan.

She further explained that, lack of legal frameworks in the governance and the management of the fund has continued to leave unresolved questions on monitoring and accountability of the project.

According to her, each of the 36 groups which received funding initially deposited Shs 10 million to the different banks which is the one-third savings condition established before the fund can be disbursed to the beneficiaries, adding that the condition is within the Cooperative Act.

The disbursement performance report indicates that only Shs 32.4 million have so far been released to the beneficiaries and the performance only stands at nearly 3.7% while billions of shillings remained inaccessible in the banks.

Members of Parliament have also raised concern on who is mandated to benefit from the interests which will accumulate in the banks for the period the beneficiaries are struggling to meet the conditions to access the funds.

While the city authorities have no idea on this concern, the Emyooga Coordinator Acholi sub-region, Caroline Alarokoma alleged that the banks have fixed the money to realize profits, one of the many factors that delayed the groups to access funding though she could not point out the specific banks.

The Area Member of Parliament for Laroo-Pece Division Fr. Charles Onen revealed that the different groups in the city have spent Shs 260 million alone to complete the registration yet they are again required to deposit one third of their savings into the banks before accessing the money which is equivalent to Shs 10 million.

“The condition is unfair and yet the project intends to improve the livelihoods of the vulnerable Ugandans but look at the poverty level in Acholi sub-region and tell me whether the groups will be able to raise that money to become the beneficiaries,” said Fr. Onen Charles.

Gulu City Woman Member of Parliament Betty Aol Ocan, said the approach government initiated for the disbursement was wrong; it calls for immediate review before the resources could get wasted.

“Emyooga shouldn’t be about receiving but how it will impact the lives of people from the region differently from other projects which were marred by corruption,” Aol further explained.

Some of the group members who talked to theCooperator shared that they have been frustrated by the processes set to access the funds and decided to abandon the project.

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Bunyoro receives Shs 4 billion as affirmative action to fight poverty

HOIMA – The government through the Ministry of Bunyoro Affairs which operates under the office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has released Shs 4 billion to Bunyoro region as a special grant to fight the worrying poverty among the kingdom subjects.

The Shs 4 billion was released under a program dubbed Micro Project Association which was recently initiated by President Museveni to help the people of Bunyoro create jobs and wealth so that they can move out of poverty.

The funds were unveiled by the State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs, Jenifer Kacha Namuyangu on Wednesday during the launch of the program at the RDC’s office in Hoima City.

During the launch, Namuyangu disbursed Shs 64.5 million to 16 groups from Hoima City and Hoima district who are the first beneficiaries of the program.

https://thecooperator.news/action-against-hunger-unveils-farming-projects/

According to Namuyangu, the Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) are mandated to monitor and supervise the implementation of the program adding that the funds will only benefit organized people in groups.

Though the beneficiaries have the right to select enterprises of their interest, Namuyangu directed leaders and technical officials to sensitize, help and guide the beneficiaries in selecting the best enterprises which are marketable and train them with financial literacy.

“This money is from President Museveni given to Bunyoro sub-region as a special intervention for them to get out of poverty in addition to other projects,” she explained.

She added that the government is ready to add more money on the Shs 4 billion to ensure that all the people interested in benefiting from the project are not left out.

“We shall even give them more money, because we have the money, this is the money for last quarter but I have already written to all accounting officers in the ten local governments of Bunyoro to select other groups and this time round we want everybody involved, the Members of Parliament, District Chairpersons and their Executives, Councillors, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and the District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) must all be involved so that the groups that are sent to me are groups that are real groups that are serious and on the ground,” she explained.

Namuyangu warned the beneficiaries against mismanagement of the funds and appealed to them to have goals, values and be focused to use the funds for the intended purpose.

Speaking on the behalf of the beneficiaries, the retired Bishop of Bunyoro Kitara diocese Rt. Rev Nathan Kyamanywa commended the president for the initiative but said that the money is too little to create impact to the beneficiaries and asked the Minister to lobby for more funding.

“There is a group which has received Shs 2 million here, so I was wondering how the members will share this money, I want to give my example. When you visited my farm, I told you that I need to have 5000 goats in 2 years, you know my budget and I have just received 10% of my budget, how will I be able to produce 5000 goats with that money, we are not rejecting it but we request that you add us more money.”

However, the Woman Member of Parliament for Hoima district, Harriet Businge welcome the program saying it will help many people to move out of poverty but questioned the criteria used in selecting the beneficiaries. She complained that groups were picked from one particular area leaving out many other areas on the program.

“It is unfortunate, that the criteria used to select the groups was unfair because when you look at Hoima district which I represent, only few groups benefited from this cycle, the entire Bugahya county with over seven sub-counties has no beneficiary at all, there is no group that has come from the entire Bugahya,” she complained.

Hoima Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Samuel Kisembo promised that a mechanism will be put in place to ensure that all the interest groups benefit.

He added that they are planning to have a committee which will select and scrutinize the beneficiaries in the second phase of the project.

Kisembo also urged the beneficiaries to excellently perform so that they can be given more funds since it’s allowed for those groups that perform well.

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Kiryandongo residents want Emyooga conditions “relaxed”

KIRYANDONGO – Residents of Kiryandongo district have asked the government to consider relaxing some of the conditions laid out before a person accesses funds under the Emyooga programme.

While meeting their constituency Members of Parliament (MPs) over the weekend, residents said the conditions set are limiting their ability to borrow and improve on their household income and well being.

Kiryandongo is made up of three constituencies which include; Kibanda South and North and the two constituencies are represented by Hon. Jacob Karubanga and Hon. Linos Ngompek respectively, while Hon. Hellen Kahunde is the Woman Member of Parliament.

During a meeting held at Kigumba sub-county headquarters, SACCO leaders prepared a report on issues affecting them and presented it to their MPs while alleging that the programme may not ably help them if it has stringent conditions attached.

“The government started this programme to help us fight poverty but it is becoming hard. We were told we need to have saved at least 30% of the money we need to borrow, but that is a tough and stringent condition. Besides that, the money given to SACCOs is also not enough,” the report read.

https://thecooperator.news/sacco-leaders-in-masindi-disagree-over-emyooga-savings-requirement/

Isaac Museveni Ulama, the Chairperson LC3 for Kigumba sub-county said there is a lot of bureaucracy when one wants to access the money thus limiting beneficiaries in addition to the 12% interest rate attached.

“There are too many forms to fill and unfortunately, a person is made to move for so many days before the entire process is completed. The process is too long and discouraging,” Ulama said.

Kenneth Kyaligonza, the Chairperson of Kibanda South Carpenters’ SACCO, said the guidelines were not well articulated to the masses before the programme was rolled out.

“This money came at a critical time of election campaigns and most people thought it was ‘free.’ Many people are still finding it hard to understand the conditions because they had different expectations,” Kyaligonza said.

However, Karubanga said, “this is a revolving fund and you must respect it. All of you cannot get money at once. Borrowers should respect the conditions set and pay back in time such that others can also benefit. If you handle the programme well, you will all benefit in the end,” Karubanga said.

However, Ngompek said the conditions set to access the money are meant to ensure that borrowers show commitment.

“When the Youth Livelihood Project was started, many people misused it by either marrying more women or wasting it in bars and it was hard to trace such money. However, the 30% savings you are being asked for are a sign of commitment that you will pay back,” Ngompek said.

When contacted, Kiryandongo District Commercial Officer, Sam Kakumba said the district received over Shs 1bn which was distributed among 35 SACCOs.

“Kibanda North has 18 SACCOs while Kibanda South has 17 and each has an average of seven associations. Each SACCO received Shs 30m except the ones for local leaders which got Shs 50m each. Each constituency has one local leaders’ SACCO. Apparently, 40 associations from different Emyooga SACCOs have received funds,” Kakumba said.

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