Itek Okile cooperative recruits 400 new members after probe on Shs 52b

LIRA – After suspending all its executive members over mismanagement of the cooperative and abuse of office, Itek Okile Rice Growers Cooperative and Saving Society is renewing membership to attract more farmers.

The cooperative had a total of 1,500 members but its executives were involved in financial misappropriation, abuse of office and fraud which prompted the district to fire and dissolve the team steering the cooperative.

Most of the members are rice growers at the government’s irrigation scheme (Olweny Swam Rice Irrigation Scheme) but according to sources, they have started recruiting and renewing memberships of its farmers for a fresh start.

To join as a member, a farmer needs to pay a membership fee of Shs 50,000 and you automatically qualify to participate in all the activities for the day to day running of the cooperative. Currently it has recruited 400 new members.

Seven years ago, under the cooperative, the government channelled Shs 52b to revamp the scheme that had collapsed during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.

Part of the money was utilized to rehabilitate the scheme and others were used for setting up stores, administration offices and procuring two tractors. The store has the capacity to accommodate more than 20 tons of rice.

“At the moment, we are busy recruiting new members and preparing fields for planting because the season is almost reaching,” says Alfred Ocen, an interim Chairperson of the cooperative.

The previous executive members were stopped and asked to step aside to pave way for investigation over funds the government channelled. They include Chairperson, Engine Morish Okene, Vice Chairman, Ojede Abenego and Treasurer, Ayugi Eunice.

Before they were fired late last year, there was a special meeting chaired by the District Commercial Officer, Santos Olade to get reports on how funds were utilized after receiving financial mismanagement issues.

The complaints raised by the supervisory team were on the recruitment of professionals (accountant and manager) to manage the cooperatives.

Bonny Ongura, the LC3 Chairperson last year said, the cooperatives had active members but the only missing link was mismanagement of the resources and improper handling of the affairs by non professionals.

“They were just spending money at source, that is why the District Commercial Officer and the district Chairperson (Richard Cox Okello Orik) asked them to step aside,” he says.

But on 2rd March 2, 2022 an insider said, the audit report on the Shs 52b was done and the cooperative is waiting for its details.

“They have not yet given me the report of their findings but I was told it is ready,” said Ongura.

Ocen said, they have recruited a new accountant to manage the finances of the cooperative and hoped to recruit a manager, tractor operators, among others.

“We want to be transparent and clear on whatever we shall do but not to bend the law governing the cooperatives and SACCO,” he said.

Efforts to get comments from the District Commercial Officer, Olade to seek clarity on the details of the report were unsuccessful since his phone contact was off.

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More than 80 Lake Kyoga fisheries officers receive training on e-licensing

SOROTI – At least 85 Fisheries Officers from Lake Kyoga have been trained on e-licensing by Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

Mildred Nabbika Rhoda, the Principal Fisheries Inspector Licensing during the one-day training conducted at Soroti Hotel said, all people involved in the fish trade such as fishermen, fishmongers, fishing net traders and boat owners among others must be registered and be licensed.

Nabbika advised the fisheries staff to be well acquainted with those trading in fish businesses to reduce irregularities in licensing.

“You should know what fish species fish traders catch and which category they fall in,” Nabbika said.

Nabbika further told the officers that this will help in identifying people who are in the business and what charges to impose on them when they go against the law.

Geoffrey Odongo, one of the fisheries staffs who attended the training said, the knowledge gained will help him execute his work diligently.

He added that a number of fish traders have not yet embraced e-licensing because they consider it expensive and very challenging to officers.

Odongo further said, the fish traders must be sensitized on e-licensing to ensure that they fully embrace it.

To be registered, boat owners and fishmongers will pay Shs100,000 while traders are expected to pay Shs 50,000,

Meanwhile, James Okileng, a fisheries officer attached to Buyende-Bukungu landing site appreciated the e-licensing system saying, it will improve on their service delivery.

He also said, a number of stakeholders were receptive to the initiative.

“A good number of fish traders have come to register for e-licencing but they lacked some requirements,” said Okileng.

Helen Adoa, the State Minister of Fisheries recently said, the move to license fishing activities is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 14 which calls for sustainable use and protection of marines and coastal ecosystems from pollution, as well as addressing the impacts of ocean acidification.

According to United Nations Development Program (UNDP), over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.

But 30% of the world’s fish stocks are overexploited, reaching below the level at which they can produce sustainable yields.

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ACDP: Parliament directs Ministry of Agriculture to investigate none payment of farmers

The Deputy Speaker, Anita Among has directed the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to investigate claims of non-payment of farmers under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP).

Anita Among said agriculture is the backbone of the country and non- payment of farmers causes a gap in the economy.

“The under absorption of funds by the ministry and the rigidity therein by the Permanent Secretary is affecting the whole country. Why should a PS undermine the minister?” Among asked.

Among’s directives follows complaints from farmers from the Lango sub-region who are demanding money from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries. Their concern was raised on the floor of Parliament by Erute North Member of Parliament, Jonathan Odur.

“The ministry contracted a number of farmers from Lira, Aleptong, Dokolo and part of Kaberamaido to supply them with cassava cuttings. Since last year, the farmers have not received their payments yet they supplied the cuttings,” he said.

Odur says, many of the farmers are wallowing in abject poverty yet they have their money with the government.

“These farmers have children that have failed to go back to school; some have died due to lack of funds to pay hospital bills and they cannot afford other basic needs,” Odur says.

According to Odur, the ministry has money but is not willing to pay the farmers for their produce.

“I have learnt that the ministry has money because this project is funded by the World Bank, but the money is lying idle on an account. Why don’t they pay the farmers?” Odur asked.

Hon Maurice Kibalya, (NRM, Bugabula County South) said that the Permanent Secretary is reluctant to make the payments without carrying out due diligence.

“The PS is the former commandant of Kyankwanzi and he categorically told us that he will not make any payments until he has done his own investigations to rule out ghost farmers,” Kibalya said.

The government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries has in recent years been using locally based farmers to supply them with farm inputs including cassava cuttings, seeds among others under the Agricultural Cluster Development Program(ACDP).

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Alebtong residents offer land to UPDF

ALEBTONG – Residents of Aloi sub-county in Alebtong district have offered 46.89 hectares of land to Uganda People’s Défense Forces (UPDF) to establish military barracks.

The residents led by John Odepe handed over the land to State Minister for Defence, Jacob Oboth Oboth on 1st March 2, 2022 in a meeting held at the district council hall.

They urged the government to refund Shs11m they spent in an attempt to pursue the matter before court, establish a primary school, health unit and connect pipe water in the area since it is hard to drill a borehole in the area.

The barracks located near Ogini hill was established in the Obote I regime to train soldiers on heavy weapons such as artillery, mortar, anti tank among others. It was also used by Koreans to train the army.

The district LC5 Chairperson, David Kennedy Odongo said the area has 50 households and there is need for the establishment of secondary and primary schools, a health facility and put special consideration during UPDF recruitments.

“We are requesting you (UPDF) to give us four slots for our qualified young people during the recruitment exercise,” Odongo says.

Minister Oboth Oboth welcomed the development saying, the government will consider the request including meeting the cost incurred by the communities to pursue the matter before court.

Few years ago, the communities in the affected villages dragged UPDF to court claiming the soldiers should be evicted because they have settled in the land illegally.

But in 2017, the former 5th division commander, Brigadier Micheal Kabango held a meeting with the communities, local leaders and MPs who include Samuel Okwir Odwee of Moroto, Denis Hamson Obua of Ajuri and Christine Achen of Alebtong and put the matter to rest.

Odongo also requested the UPDF to consider giving the people income generating activities such as a SACCO, and train them on village saving and loan association to enable them become economically empowered.

He said the level of poverty in the district is so high and there is urgent need to join hands such that the vice is eradicated.

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Mbarara city launches property tax validation to raise Shs9b from local revenue collection

MBARARA – Where as Mbarara city’s total budget stands at Shs 45b; a total of Shs 9b approximately 20% comes from local revenue collection realized from trading licenses and other taxes imposed on the business community within the city boundaries.

It is from this background that Mbarara city leadership asked all landlords to comply with the property valuation exercise to achieve their estimated local revenue collection.

The deputy City Mayor, Priscah Mulongo made these remarks while launching the valuation ratings of Mbarara city buildings around the city.

According to Mulongo, the property rates are stipulated in the Local Government Act amended in 2005 Section 3 which requires Local Government to levy property rates on the building owners within its jurisdiction.

Mulongo reports that the last valuation exercise of buildings happened in 2015 at a time when Mbarara was still a municipality.

“Each government entity is supposed to evaluate rates every after five years and ours was last done in 2015 when we were still a municipality but since we were elevated to a city status, we have to re-evaluate the ratings,” the Deputy Mayor said.

“This gives us the mandate to do valuation of properties to come up with new rates because we now have a city status with a new face of Mbarara,” she added.

The Deputy City Mayor says, the rating of Mbarara City buildings will help to track revenue collections from all the developments to change the face of Mbarara.

“We have all witnessed development within a short time regardless of challenges such as Covid-19 but new buildings have been put up and others are undergoing construction which are not captured and do not pay property rates,” says Mulongo.

“For instance, someone who was the building owner for the last five years is no longer the landlord because the property has changed ownership yet we need to account for the property within the city for better planning and budget processes,” she added.

According to Samuel Tayebwa, the City Revenue Officer, the valuation exercise for the buildings in the city is going to be spearheaded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with Knight Frank Uganda Ltd, a qualified valuer in Uganda.

“Under Section 8 of the Local Government Act, it is required that a qualified valuer should be appointed for the purpose of rating and it is Knight Frank Uganda Ltd in partnership with USAID that chose to take up the role where we had gaps of an expired valuation,” he said.

Tayebwa adds that the city leadership will be excited to increase property tax from Shs 1.3billion on average every financial year.

“Mbarara raises Shs 1.3billion on average but since it is now a new city, we expect a lot of local revenue because the property rate values vary depending on the market value of the rent which people give,” says Tayebwa.

He noted that contradictory values for the buildings can be challenged to the city authorities or in the valuation court.

“Values which will be published are subjected to objection so I appeal to the landlords to challenge values of property if they are not satisfied with the valuer. But if you don’t view the list and object, that means you agree with the valuation,” the revenue officer explained.

According to Tayebwa, the valuation exercise targeting all immovable property such as kiosks, buildings, industrial, non-industrial or any other structure will end in June 2022.

Aggrey Twijukye, one of the landlords in Mbarara town, invited his fellow landlords to cooperate with valuers.

“I want to appeal to my fellow landlords to make sure they comply because most of our buildings are vacant and unless we declare that this is an empty space, the city council shall levy wrong rates to our structures,” Twijukye said.

On behalf of business people in Mbarara, Twijukye also requested the city council to look into the issue of transparency while collecting taxes.

“Why should kiosks operating from behind the buildings be charged the same amount paid by the business people operating from the main street? Is that fair really?” the city boss asked.

“How does the city expect to increase revenue from Shs 1.3billion to Shs 3 billion when most of the commercial premises are unoccupied due to Covid19 crisis? Otherwise, people are running away from the city which the city leadership has to pay attention,” he added.

The Local Government Act 2005 which stipulates that all buildings in the city councils are levied property rent tax was passed by the 1900 legislature to help collect government revenue for purposes of development.

“Property rates is a levy which is pressed onto the payment of which is placed on the buildings of owners of any jurisdiction that has been confirmed as sufficient to charge property tax and those are town councils, municipalities and cities,” reads part of the Local Government Act 2005.

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Minister Obua queries Shs 546m released to Dokolo schools

DOKOLO – The Ministry of Education and Sports is questioning the utilization of Shs 546 million released by the government for minor repairs to 75 primary schools in Dokolo district.

The money was channeled for reopening education institutions after the government instituted a two-year lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

State Minister for Sports, Denis Hamson Obua summoned selected Headteachers, LC3 Chairpersons, district officials and Inspector of schools for a meeting held on 25th February,2022 and raised the red flag over the funds.

This followed a hint by the district Chairperson, James Otto recently that Headteachers remitted 10% of the money sent to their schools to the education department. The education sector has so far received Shs 8.8billion beside money for minor repairs.

The Headteacher of Awiro Primary School, Peter Omara and the Chairperson, School Management Committee (SMC), Kenneth Owiny threw the meeting into shock and disbelief when he revealed the incidences of fraud and corruption.

He claimed that when they (Omara and Owiny) withdrew Shs 6.4 million from DFCU Bank Dokolo branch, they picked 10% of the money and handed it over to Bosco Obia, the Headteacher of Dokolo Primary School and Angom Christine Nancy of Adwoki.

Obia, according to sources, is the Treasurer of Headteachers` welfare and Angom is the Chairperson.

“They told me that the district wants us to return the money,” Omara revealed during a heated meeting chaired by Minister Obua. He reportedly gave Shs 645,000 which was 10% of the money he picked from the bank.

Efforts to get comments from the two Headteachers were unsuccessful since their telephone contacts were off and were fearing to be arrested.

Omara alleges that when they were directed to Osco bookshop where they gave the money, they found a group of five Headteachers in the shop. He could not recall all their names, but he was able to identify Angom and Peter Omara of Alapata.

“I am a saved person, and I cannot run away from the truth because if we try, it will be a curse to our children,” he said.

“They had a list of all schools and the amount each school should ‘vomit,’” he adds. “From there, they called the name of my school (Awiri) and the Headteacher picked Shs 645, 000 from the bag and handed it over to him.”

Though some Head Teachers concealed the fraudulent deals fearing the repercussions, after the meeting, Minister Obua directed the police to open an investigation over the rackets.

“If you were mentioned or participated in the collection of the alleged 10% from schools within Dokolo, he or she should refund the money within 48 hours or should be arrested,” he directs.

He cautioned Headteachers and district officials against ‘salivating’ on the public funds saying whoever is found will be arrested, prosecuted and will face disciplinary action.

The district Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal advised the ministry to extend investigation into the utilization of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Fund to other schools in the country.

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Amuru market vendors want hawkers and produce dealers’ operations restricted

AMURU – Pabo market vendors in Pabo Town Council, Amuru district want the town council and district authorities to restrict the movement and operation of hawkers and produce dealers.

They say hawkers and produce dealers most times go deep into the community selling their products at relatively cheaper prices and tampering with weighing scales as they buy items like cereals.

Santa Akech, Secretary of the Fish Vendors Association in Pabo market says, the hawkers and produce dealers most times tamper with weighing scales, cheating the local produce dealers and as they buy at a cheaper price.

Akech further says, most hawkers who come from other parts of the country tend to sell their items at a low price, swaying off customers from buying from them who pay rent, taxes, and trading licenses.

“Many of these hawkers don’t pay rent, neither do they pay taxes, yet they are the very people who drop prices of items to sway customers away from us,” Akech explained.

David Ocira, another vendor at Pabo market says, before starting business at the market, one is required to register with market authorities to help in tracing and organizing of the business.

Ocira further says if not regulated, the vendors could turn out to be thieves masquerading as vendors, yet they are only targeting to steal from those who operate at the market.

Already, several cases of theft and burglary have been reported at the market in recent times.

Raphael Onguka Onuka, the Chairperson of Pabo market vendors says, the continued operation of unregistered hawkers and produce dealers costs the town council revenue which implies the incapacity of the town council to provide services to those who pay tax at the market.

Already, the latrine at the market has not been emptied for three months leaving the area engulfed with bad smell and forcing sellers and buyers to use plastic papers to ease themselves before disposing it at a nearby garbage collection point.

“As market vendors, if anyone is not willing to register and abide by the set constitution of the market, they should then be stopped from operating within the town council,” said Onguka.

“We want the hawkers and produce dealers to officially register with us, so we know that they are our members and that the revenue and trading license fees they pay help the authorities in providing services for us in the market. We know for a fact that any area can’t be developed only by its natives,” Onguka said.

“As much as we want Pabo to develop and grow, the local businesses should not be suffocated and cheated by hawkers who don’t pay taxes and sell items at very low prices,” Onguka observed.

Moses Simba Tokuma, the Chairperson Finance, Marketing and Planning, Pabo Town Council says, the concern of the vendors is already being addressed by the town council.

Tokuma also said, registering hawkers and produce dealers would help widen the revenue base but also fight the threat of insecurity in the town council. Since revenue from market dues is one of the major sources of funds.

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AGM: Bushenyi SACCOs continue to perform well despite Covid-19 huddles

BUSHENYI – Whereas most financial institutions are grappling to recover from Covid-19 pandemic, Kyamuhunga Peoples’ SACCO (KYAPS) in Bushenyi district is in the limelight for recording tremendous success during the financial year 2020/21.

This was revealed on Saturday during its 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held at Kyamuhunga Catholic Parish main hall located in Bushenyi district.

According to Paul Turyamureeba Kahiigi, the SACCO board Chairman, KYAPS managed to register a profit of Shs 1,666,680,413 in the year 2021.

Kahiigi thanked the board members, and the management for pulling such a tremendous performance during the Covid-19 lockdown, a time when most businesses that contribute to the SACCOs’ liquidity had been halted.

John Bosco Atwijukire, the SACCO’s General Manager says, KYAPS currently desires to increase the external borrowing from Shs 4 billion to Shs 6 billion to boost its liquidity.

“Of course, we have been borrowing around Shs.4 billion but when we held a meeting, members asked us to increase the commercial loans which we shall have to sit and look into; in order to boost our loan performance because this shows that members still need more money to invest and we cannot limit them because this is their SACCO, ours is to guide and show them the good way to go,” Atwijukire said.

Dr Silver Mugisha, the Managing Director, National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) who was the Chief Guest warned of opening multiple branches which increases the cost of business-like paying staff, rent, transport among others.

“It is important to find a delicate balance of how many branches you can open so that you can make services easier for the people. But also, you don’t increase costs excessively to affect the value that members will be expecting at the end of the year,” he emphasized.

He maintained that SACCOs must go digital explaining that digital innovations are a good approach that reduces costs and increases efficiency of institutions.

The NWSC boss who is also a member of KYAPS encouraged the SACCO to venture into product diversification which is important for institutional sustainability.

“Product diversification is conventionally known as a strategy to enter into a new product or product lines, new services or new markets, involving substantially different skills, technology and knowledge. So, the board and management should sit and look at products being offered and think of which other products can be offered.”

He also called upon financial institutions to embrace digital innovations to reduce operational costs.

“You also need to go digital, but it is extremely important to see that the people you serve appreciate its importance because sometimes people are not comfortable with digitalization as some members find it okay when they go and transact physically at the bank,” Dr Mugisha emphasized.

According to Ms Sharon Nahabwe, the Principal Commercial Officer, Bushenyi district who is the former General Manager at Kyamuhunga Peoples’ Cooperative Savings and Credit Society, investing in research and innovation by SACCOs which literally means doing things differently from competitors comes with a competitive advantage and helps to achieve market leadership.

The Bushenyi district Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Ms Jane Asiimwe Muhindo who said that KYAPS clients were thrilled by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s membership in the rural bank hailed KYAPS board and management for running a well-organized institution.

“We have so many cooperatives in Bushenyi but if there could be any transparent SACCO, Kyamuhunga is number one and I will extend this to the President and tell him that being one of its members, his savings do still exist and are secure,” says Muhindo.

KYAPS required legal rights to offer cooperative society services in 2004 and has since grown into a top-notch SACCO in Western Uganda with the capacity to run four branches including Butare (main branch), Katerera, Rutookye and Ishaka branch.

Also, Butuuro SACCO located in Bushenyi district recorded a resilient performance of Shs 542 million net profit in 2021 compared to Shs 227 million in 2020.

This was reported on Saturday during its 14th Annual General Meeting for the financial year (FY 2020/21).

According to Benson Barigye, the Board Chairman’s plan has been underway since 2020 for Butuuro SACCO to transition into a Microfinance Deposit Institution (MDI).

“As a SACCO, we have done what we could, and we believe that to make it more profitable we need to have better prices per share to the members,” Barigye said.

The Chairman adds that crossing to MDI, will expand the institution for the entire community to access financial services.

“With the MDI status, we can have other members of the community not necessarily being shareholders of the SACCO. The idea started two years ago. We presented it in the AGM and members bought the idea but asked the board to do more research,” Barigye emphasized.

However, he said the SACCO is only blocked by the Shs. 5 billion share capital requirement to start operating as MDI.

“We called Bank of Uganda officials in March 2021, and they took us through all the requirements for us to become an MDI and the assessment was that if we can improve on the share capital because we had all the necessary requirements except for the share capital which was Shs 5 billion and at that time we had only Shs 2 billion which we have been working hard to save,” Barigye explained.

The Chairman says the cooperative is not moved by Bank of Uganda’s proposal to increase the share capital requirement from Shs 5 billion to Shs 10 billion for one to run an MDI.

“We are still waiting for the proposal whether to be passed but for us we are determined even if the capital requirement is increased or not, we want to keep increasing our share capital to become a Microfinance Deposit Institution,” Barigye said.

Currently Butuuro SACCO has a total capital of Shs 2.1 billion, total turnover of around Shs1.9 billion and boasts of 11,000 members.

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All Saints University Lango gets two tractors worth Shs 800m

LIRA – The government has donated two tractors to All Saints University- Lango to boost its agricultural training program as they plan to open a Faculty of Agriculture.

The tractors worth Shs 800 Million were offered by the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADs) under Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) which is headed by Gen. Salim Salah.

Two months ago, during the graduation of more than 300 students at All Saints University, the OWC Chief Coordinator, Saleh through Amolatar woman MP Dr Agnes Apea donated Sh10m and pledged to offer two tractors.

The varsity located at St Augustine Community Center in Lira City has more than 200 students with 22 pursuing certificates in Agriculture.

The university was started in 2009 by Lango Diocese to provide a cheap and affordable higher institution of learning.

The University’s Chancellor who doubles as the Bishop of Lango diocese, Prof Alfred Olwa called upon the administration to use the machinery carefully to support development.

He urges the people in the Lango sub-region to embrace the Parish Development Model (PDM) as one of the programs to eliminate poverty in the households and generate income.

Health Minister, Dr Jane Aceng delivered the tractors to the university administration on 24th February at the University’s new site in Ireda, Boroboro road, Lira City East division.

She applauded All Saints University Lango for engaging in agricultural productivity in line with government’s policy of poverty alleviation and wealth creation strategies.

“I want to thank the All Saints University for introducing agricultural courses which are in line with the government policy of fighting poverty through farming and income generation,” she said.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Anthony Cula said, the tractors will benefit both the university and the farmers in the Lango sub-region.

He urged the government through the Ministry of Education and Sports to support the university financially since they were badly hit by COVID-19.

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Lira Produce SACCO requests MSC to probe Emyooga

LIRA – Lira Produce Dealers Cooperative Saving and Credit Society in Lira City have expressed their frustration to access emyooga funds.

The members numbering 180 say, the program which was targeting low-income earners was the best, but it has been messed up by greedy district officials and local leaders.

They insisted that Microfinance Support Center (MSC) should carry out a deep investigation and prosecute people found culpable of mismanaging emyooga programme.

Emyooga is a Runyankole dialect that refers to specialized skills enterprises and it was a presidential initiative aimed at wealth and job creation.

It was launched by President Museveni in August 2019 as part of the government’s continuous strategies to transform 68% of Ugandan homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production

Its main target was to increase employment, access to specialized financial services to rural areas particularly to women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

The group, according to Ogwal has 180 members and each contributed a recommended seed capital of Shs20, 000 making them realize Shs 2.6m. It was split into six smaller groups to ease the process and follow the SACCO’s guideline.

“We learnt that some people who are not members of Lira Produce Dealers were appointed by the District Commercial Officer to open and manage our account,” Patrick Ogwal, the Chairperson of the cooperative alleges in the letter, which was sent to MSC.

Ogwal says, MSC should probe the SACCOs that benefited from Emyooga and find out why the leadership of Lira produce dealers was sidelined.

“We condemn the corruption act perpetrated by the public officer and we reiterate that we will continue to seek justice in this matter unless it is addressed,” he concludes.

Patrick Okello, the Secretary of Lira Produce Dealers Cooperative and Saving Society, said on 23rd February that since last year their money is lying idle in the bank and they are stuck.

“We got stuck and decided to leave the money there idle,” Okello says.

Okello says, before they encountered the challenges, they were instructed by the District Commercial Officer (Juspine Alobo) to open a bigger account which would accommodate all these six groups.

Alobo, when contacted late last year, could not accept, or deny saying she was out of office and the right person to comment was Resident City Commissioner, Lawrence Egole.

Egole says, he had received a copy of the letter and would act on it accordingly.

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