Muslim women, Busoga ghettos get shs3.2b SACCO boost

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President Yoweri Museveni has fulfilled his pledge of sh2 billion to Muslim women SACCOS and extended a further sh1.2 billion to ghetto SACCOs in the Busoga sub-region.

The State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye, delivered the funds to the groups on Monday (September 22) at a function held at Okello House in Kampala. She said the support is a government initiative to strengthen household incomes and must be managed carefully.

“Whoever misuses this money will be arrested and jailed,” Barekye cautioned. She explained that beneficiaries are expected to repay the money at an annual rate of 6 per cent, either as interest for the ghetto SACCOs or a service fee for the Muslim Women SACCOs.

Special Presidential Assistant Faruk Kirunda, who also coordinates the SACCOs, reminded recipients that the initiative was not linked to elections.

“This money is not from President Museveni as a person but from the government, so do not come in the name of politics to misuse it, because if you do so, you will be arrested and dealt with according to the law,” he said.

Kirunda noted that annual audits would be conducted to track the funds and warned against altering repayment terms.

On the directive of the President, Kirunda and Crime Intelligence Director, Maj. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira have been tasked to coordinate the ghettos in Busoga.

Sofia Kenyangi, the Uganda Muslim Women Council chairperson, welcomed the release of funds and thanked the President for keeping his promise.