Is prosperity for all limited to NRM members?
Feb 17, 2010
EVERY Ugandan irrespective of his or her political affiliation is free to become a member of a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS) under the Prosperity for all Programme.
By JoShua Kato
EVERY Ugandan irrespective of his or her political affiliation is free to become a member of a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS) under the Prosperity for all Programme.
“Since poverty does not respect party colours, so is prosperity for all,†the state minister for microfinance, Ruth Nankabirwa, said during the launching of Muwanguzi SACCOs, Kawempe Division, Kampala. She says it is not true that people who do not subscribe to the NRM are being intentionally left out of the programme.
“This money has got no political colour. It is neither is it blue nor yellow, green nor white. It has no political party,†she said.
There has been a misconception across the country that only NRM supporters are supposed to benefit from prosperity for all.
“There are several SACCOs, led by opposition members that have already gained from the programme. For instance, Issa Kikugwe’s SACCOs called Massa in Wakiso district is successful.
Nankabibirwa urges leaders to mobilize the population to join SACCOs. There are about 660 SACCOs in Uganda under this programme, with a membership of over 600,000 people. Nankabiirwa says some people join the system with unrealistic expectations, like they are set to give free money.
“So when some of these people realise that certain measures have to be taken before they can access these funds, they leave or become inactive members,†she says.
She says SACCOs are now the best source of easy loans to the population, with agriculture loans given out at as low as 9-10% interest rates.
EVERY Ugandan irrespective of his or her political affiliation is free to become a member of a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS) under the Prosperity for all Programme.
“Since poverty does not respect party colours, so is prosperity for all,†the state minister for microfinance, Ruth Nankabirwa, said during the launching of Muwanguzi SACCOs, Kawempe Division, Kampala. She says it is not true that people who do not subscribe to the NRM are being intentionally left out of the programme.
“This money has got no political colour. It is neither is it blue nor yellow, green nor white. It has no political party,†she said.
There has been a misconception across the country that only NRM supporters are supposed to benefit from prosperity for all.
“There are several SACCOs, led by opposition members that have already gained from the programme. For instance, Issa Kikugwe’s SACCOs called Massa in Wakiso district is successful.
Nankabibirwa urges leaders to mobilize the population to join SACCOs. There are about 660 SACCOs in Uganda under this programme, with a membership of over 600,000 people. Nankabiirwa says some people join the system with unrealistic expectations, like they are set to give free money.
“So when some of these people realise that certain measures have to be taken before they can access these funds, they leave or become inactive members,†she says.
She says SACCOs are now the best source of easy loans to the population, with agriculture loans given out at as low as 9-10% interest rates.