President Yoweri Museveni has issued new directives regarding the distribution of the Emyooga and Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to the poor in his efforts to help people get out of the subsistence and into the money economy.

The President, who on Tuesday started his tour of Greater Masaka comprising the districts of Masaka, Rakai, Ssembabule, Kalangala, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Lwengo, Lyantonde in addition to Masaka city, said he was impressed with what he had seen as he flew over the region and later made on-the-spot inspections in different localities.

From his observations, Museveni said that whereas the sub-region had tried to engage in various income-generating activities, the communities still had some poor people who were not earning anything. This group, he added, will be his major focus during his working visit to the sub-region.

He directed the Emyooga and the PDM programmes to now focus on the most vulnerable people who are not earning anything for a living.

President Yoweri Museveni meeting Mzeei Eriasabu Micwe from Rakai who studied with him in Primary One A at Kyamate PS in 1952. He gave him an envelope. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Addressing huge crowds at Masaka Recreation Ground, the President said he had been disappointed to learn that the Emyooga scheme secretariat were asking people to pay back the loans in four months and wondered which venture could make profits in such a short period.

“When I learnt about this I asked Kasolo (Haruna Kasolo, the state minister for microfinance) to explain. I wanted to know who had told him to do that and I asked him not to repeat it. The Government was not aiming at looking for quick profits. Our aim as the Government is to help you get out of poverty,” he told the huge gathering comprising the leaders from LC1 to Parliament. Several cabinet ministers, heads of government agencies and religious leaders attended the meeting.

The President directed that henceforth, that the minimum period within which anyone should pay back the Emyooga loan be one year and one is free to pay back the whole package or decide to pay in instalments over a period of two years or 24 months.

Vice President Jessica Alupo arriving at Masaka Liberation Square. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

“No one will be required to pay back in a period of less than one year,” he emphasised. For the PDM programme, the President directed no one will be asked to pay back the loan in less than two years.

He again stressed that one is free to choose to pay back the entire loan after two years of decide to pay in instalments so long as it does. It is your money because when you pay back it will not come back to the Government but it will still remain in your SACCOS [savings and credit cooperative society], that will become your local bank,” he said.

The President also directed the managers of the two programmes to address what he termed as mistakes raised by several stakeholders, including asking for registration fees.

The fees, he ordered, must stop because the money was targeting poor people outside the money economy.

Masaka district chairman Andrew Lukyamuzi Batyemetto speaking at the function. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

The President said no one is required to provide collateral, but instead one’s character can be assessed by the SACCOS committee and it becomes the basis of their recommending him or her for a loan.

Museveni also hinted at the complicated forms that the people were being asked to fill yet some of the applicants were illiterate.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja interacting with leaders at Masaka Liberation Square. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

He, however, encouraged people to turn up Wednesday for a big rally and bring forward all their complaints and grievances about the two programmes, saying it was the reason he was in the region.

Museveni said the Emyooga and PDM money would remain in the SACCOS and each year for PDM, the Government would add sh100m, which would keep increasing in the subsequent years.

On the issue of the Muslim fund, also known as Riba, the President invited the Muslim sheikhs for a meeting so that they can share ideas since some of them were uncomfortable with the two programmes.

Former Vice president Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi and leaders at Masaka Liberation Square. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Turning to the rich people who want loans to boost their ventures, he said they should make use of the Uganda Development Bank, where the Government had put money for agricultural loans, industries and other development ventures, but not for the importation of luxury goods like jewellery or perfumes.

The meeting was also attended by Vice-President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, MPs and district leaders.

Hajati Hadija Namyalo, the head of the Office of the NRM National Chairman speaking at the function. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

It was organised by minister Kasolo in conjunction with Hajati Hadija Namyalo, the head of the office of the national chairperson of the NRM.

On the infrastructure in the subregion, the President promised to work on several roads and sympathised with the people of the area for the collapse of the Katonga bridge.

CALL FOR VALUE ADDITION

Earlier in the day, Museveni visited and pledged to support Kyesiiga Green Village Farming Centre at Lwemonde village, Kyesiima parish, Kyesiiga subcounty in Masaka district.

He said he would accord them all the necessary support including giving them a truck (Mitsubishi Canter) to boost their farming activities such as transporting their yields to the market.

In Kyesiiga, he was received at the farm by former vice-president Edward Ssekandi and a team of Kyesiiga Green Village farming Centre led by James Kabito.

Vincent Ssempijja, the minister for defense speaking at the function. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

The President inspected various units including coffee plantations, pineapple plantations, nursery beds, and a solar-powered irrigation power plant which pumps water into the tank used for watering the agricultural farm.

While addressing a cross-section of farmers, Museveni commended them for transforming their lives through embracing government development programmes such as Uganda Coffee Development Association (UDCA) and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

Masaka city tycoon, Emmanuel Lwasa at the function where President Museveni addressed leaders from Greater Masaka. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

He urged the group and others in the sub-region to add value to their produce so that they benefit more from their sweat.

Representing the farmers, Kabito told the President that they have 20 acres of coffee, 40 acres of pineapples, two-and-a-half acres of passion fruits and half an acre of nursery beds.

Concerning profits, Kabito informed Museveni that they earn sh9m per year from 450 coffee plantations using the old method of farming and with the newly invented method of farming they earn sh23m per year on one acre of land with 1,300 coffee plantations.

LC3 chairpersons cheering in front of President Yoweri Museveni. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

He explained that on each acre, they put 450-1,300 coffee seedlings. Kabito added that the new method can help to increase the quantity of coffee in Uganda. When it comes to pineapples, they have 40 acres and yield sh12m per year.

Kabito, who many describe as a model farmer, reported that many others in his group earn a living through modern farming and their vision was transforming the community from subsistence to commercial farming.

Bishop Leonard Sserwadda of the Pentacostal Churches leading the prayers. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

He said in the bid to attain their vision, they first train those who buy their seedlings, sensitise the community on mindset change. He employs 20 workers.

Kabito appreciated the President for initiating developmental programmes such as UDCA and OWC which supplied him with 1,000 coffee seedlings and 20,000 pineapple seedlings which have transformed his life and the community.

OPPOSITION LEADERS ATTEND MEETING

Whereas the majority of leaders were clad in yellow outfits that are favoured by the ruling NRM party, some politicians from the opposition parties also attended the meeting.

Seated in the VIP section were National Unity Platform leaders including Twaha Kagabo of Bukoto South and Masaka LC5 chairperson Andrew Lukyamuzi Batyemetto. They asked the President for a vehicle to ease their personal transport, to tarmack the road from Kidda to Nkuke and Kyannamukaaka to Bukunda and procure for them solar-powered maize sun driers, saying many farmers were selling their maize to traders from Tanzania, who in turn sell them maize flour at a much higher price.

INFRASTRUCTURE IN MASAKA

The President promised to tarmack several roads in the sub-region, including the Lusaalira Nkongi-Makole-Ssembabule, which is part of the oil roads, Mbiriizi-Matete- Ssembabule, Kyabakuza- Kibinge-Matete, Lyantonde- Lumbugu-Rakai road and the Villa Maria Kyamulibwa-Bugomola-Kifampa road.

MPs cheering NUP's Twaha Kagabo as he introduced himself before President Yoweri Museveni. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

He assured the leaders that the Masaka-Kyotera-Mutukula highway was already in the pipeline and that the funds had already been secured.

Museveni, however, cautioned people against pushing the Government to embark on too many projects at the same time, saying the money was not enough to do all at a go.

He said for the time being, his emphasis would remain on wealth creation, but stressed that the Government would go ahead to maintain the murram roads and asked them to use them so long as they are properly levelled and passable.