Over 1,000 Kibaale groups verified to benefit from 'Emyooga' Initiative

WEALTH CREATION

A total of 1,183 organiSed groups in Kibaale and Kagadi districts which applied for financial support from micro-finance support centre have been verified to benefit from the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and job creation 'emyooga' funds.

The initiative rolled out by President Museveni early this year seeks to finance small groups involved in small-medium enterprises in of the economy.

Jimmy Mukasa, the Kibaale District Community Development Officer (DCDO),  told the NewVision Saturday that the approved 243 groups will receive over sh100m in the two constituencies of Buyanja and Buyanja East.

‘'We submitted the proposed beneficiary groups to the relevant ministry and received feedback approval. I only call upon the would-be beneficiary groups to be patient and get prepared to put money into its effective use'', he said.

Mukasa noted that among the groups that applied and were verified for funds include Journalists, musicians, boda boda riders, tailors, market vendors, saloon operators, private teachers among others.

Mukasa believes the new initiative will outshine the youth livelihood programme funds that have been abused by the beneficiaries in the district.

He said: ‘'We registered a lot of defaults and misuse of youth livelihood funds in the previous years with some youth leaders arrested and forced to refund the funds. This time round anybody who will dare to divert the disbursed funds meant to alleviate poverty will face the wrath of the law''.

Christopher Sande Kyomywa, the Kibaale District Chief Administrative officer (CAO) concurred with Jimmy Mukasa's warning that about three years back some youth and women leaders diverted group funds meant to benefit other groups as a revolving fund adding that stringent measures have been put in place to safeguard the funds.

He said: ‘'We have put strict measures against diverting funds from government which is meant to benefit organised and active groups under Emyooga initiative. Whoever dares to play around with the funds, the long arm of the government will catch up with him or her''.

In Kagadi district, Posiano Ngondwe the Kagadi district community development officer(DCDO) told the New Vision on Sunday that a total of 940 groups from the two constituencies of Buyaga East and West had been verified by micro-finance support centre to benefit from the ‘'Emyooga''

He noted that the two constituencies will receive sh120m with each constituency allocated at least sh60m. He appealed to the beneficiaries to start forming saccos and save money on their respective accounts to benefit from the funds.

‘'We appeal to the beneficiaries to ensure compliance to guidelines on how the funds will be utilised to avoid messes as it had been with youth livelihood project'', he said.

Peter Kusemererwa, the Kagadi district commercial officer said most of the groups that were approved included boda bodas, private teachers saccos, Journalists, saloon operators, tailors, carpenters, builders, singers, market vendors and traders.