SACCOS not political, says Museveni
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni, who is currently on a tour of northern Uganda, has cautioned local leaders against mixing the formation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) with party politics.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni, who is currently on a tour of northern Uganda, has cautioned local leaders against mixing the formation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) with party politics.
While meeting Gulu district leaders at the state lodge in the district on Thursday, Museveni said loans acquired through SACCOs were intended to benefit everybody, irrespective of their political affiliation.
Museveni is in the northern region to assess the effects of the recent floods and the reconstruction of the area after two decades of the LRA insurgency.
According to a statement from the State House, the President explained that those who hope to engage in agricultural projects would get loans at an interest rate of 13% per year, while those who engage in commercial projects would pay an interest of 17% yearly.
He warned the Gulu district leaders against discouraging investors and called those doing it “enemies of northern Ugandaâ€.
On development, the President said the Government would start industries to create employment.
He called for the reorientation of education towards vocational studies so as to equip young people with skills required in the job market.
Museveni promised that the television mast in Gulu would be rehabilitated so that people could watch the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.
He emphasised the need for immunising children, fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria and alcoholism.
Plans are underway to rehabilitate the infrastructure in northern Uganda in order to boost trade between Uganda and Southern Sudan, Museveni added.
This includes the development of Gulu Airport and the rehabilitation of the Gulu-Atiak-Bibia Road and Aswa Bridge.
The Government was building roads to enable the UPDF provide security as former internally displaced people return to their homes, he announced.
“The Pabbo-Olam-Nyungu and Gulu-Rhino Camp security roads have been built. I want more roads built not only for security but for the wanainchi,†he said.
He also promised to compensate the people whose land the Government used to set up IDP camps during the insurgency.
Museveni said the Government would increase safe water coverage through provision of piped water and boreholes in the villages.
He added that the transformation of northern Uganda, would involve supporting the education sector and reopening schools which had previously been abandoned during the insurgency.
The Gulu district chairperson, Norbert Mao, commended the President for his efforts to restore peace in the region.
He pledged to support government programmes to develop the area. Mao said meaningful peace should include resettling of former IDPs, helping traumatised children and people who lost their property, as well as helping bereaved families.
In another meeting with Amuru district leaders, Museveni commended people in the north for not habouring feelings of vengeance against detractors that have made them suffer.
On the Kony-led war, Museveni said he would forgive the rebels who committed atrocities in northern Uganda if they surrendered peacefully.
About the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) programmes, the President stated that the Government would carry out an audit of both programmes to ascertain whether the funds were misused.
Museveni said Gulu received sh800m from NAADS, while NUSAF allocated sh12b to Gulu and Amuru districts in the last two years.
“The Government is sending a lot of money to this area, which if properly used, can help you. I have come for political auditing, to see if this money is reaching the people. But this will be followed by a team of professional auditors to check where the money we have been sending has gone. Those handling the money should not play around.
He added: “We normally do not eat cows which have died of anthrax. The money from the Government is like anthrax which you should never touch even if you find it lying on the table.â€
The President toured income-generating projects in Gulu, which included Adaka Rice Farm, Opit Bee Project, Tetugo Dairy Farm and Chwa Youth Centre.
In Amuru, he toured Pukure Orphan Care Integrated and Fish Farming Project and Keyo Send a Cow project in Lamogi sub-county where he donated sh4m to cater for veterinary drugs.
Museveni laid a foundation stone for the Amuru district headquarters.
By Chris Ocowun, Raymond Baguma and Geresom Musamali
While meeting Gulu district leaders at the state lodge in the district on Thursday, Museveni said loans acquired through SACCOs were intended to benefit everybody, irrespective of their political affiliation.
Museveni is in the northern region to assess the effects of the recent floods and the reconstruction of the area after two decades of the LRA insurgency.
According to a statement from the State House, the President explained that those who hope to engage in agricultural projects would get loans at an interest rate of 13% per year, while those who engage in commercial projects would pay an interest of 17% yearly.
He warned the Gulu district leaders against discouraging investors and called those doing it “enemies of northern Ugandaâ€.
On development, the President said the Government would start industries to create employment.
He called for the reorientation of education towards vocational studies so as to equip young people with skills required in the job market.
Museveni promised that the television mast in Gulu would be rehabilitated so that people could watch the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.
He emphasised the need for immunising children, fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria and alcoholism.
Plans are underway to rehabilitate the infrastructure in northern Uganda in order to boost trade between Uganda and Southern Sudan, Museveni added.
This includes the development of Gulu Airport and the rehabilitation of the Gulu-Atiak-Bibia Road and Aswa Bridge.
The Government was building roads to enable the UPDF provide security as former internally displaced people return to their homes, he announced.
“The Pabbo-Olam-Nyungu and Gulu-Rhino Camp security roads have been built. I want more roads built not only for security but for the wanainchi,†he said.
He also promised to compensate the people whose land the Government used to set up IDP camps during the insurgency.
Museveni said the Government would increase safe water coverage through provision of piped water and boreholes in the villages.
He added that the transformation of northern Uganda, would involve supporting the education sector and reopening schools which had previously been abandoned during the insurgency.
The Gulu district chairperson, Norbert Mao, commended the President for his efforts to restore peace in the region.
He pledged to support government programmes to develop the area. Mao said meaningful peace should include resettling of former IDPs, helping traumatised children and people who lost their property, as well as helping bereaved families.
In another meeting with Amuru district leaders, Museveni commended people in the north for not habouring feelings of vengeance against detractors that have made them suffer.
On the Kony-led war, Museveni said he would forgive the rebels who committed atrocities in northern Uganda if they surrendered peacefully.
About the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) programmes, the President stated that the Government would carry out an audit of both programmes to ascertain whether the funds were misused.
Museveni said Gulu received sh800m from NAADS, while NUSAF allocated sh12b to Gulu and Amuru districts in the last two years.
“The Government is sending a lot of money to this area, which if properly used, can help you. I have come for political auditing, to see if this money is reaching the people. But this will be followed by a team of professional auditors to check where the money we have been sending has gone. Those handling the money should not play around.
He added: “We normally do not eat cows which have died of anthrax. The money from the Government is like anthrax which you should never touch even if you find it lying on the table.â€
The President toured income-generating projects in Gulu, which included Adaka Rice Farm, Opit Bee Project, Tetugo Dairy Farm and Chwa Youth Centre.
In Amuru, he toured Pukure Orphan Care Integrated and Fish Farming Project and Keyo Send a Cow project in Lamogi sub-county where he donated sh4m to cater for veterinary drugs.
Museveni laid a foundation stone for the Amuru district headquarters.
By Chris Ocowun, Raymond Baguma and Geresom Musamali