MP Donates Part Of His Shs 200M Towards Construction Of A Health Facility

SOROTI – Residents of Soroti City, West Division are in celebratory mood as their area member of parliament Jonathan Ebwalu donated part of his Shs 200m meant for a car, towards the construction of a health facility.

Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Agora Health Center III on Thursday, Ebwalu told the jubilant locals that he has donated Shs 70m out of Shs 200M he received towards the construction project.

The facility will have a doctor’s consultation room, Out Patients Department (OPD), laboratory and a ward for women. It’s to be constructed on 58 acres of government land located in Ojikai cell, Agora ward in Soroti City west division.

Once completed, the health facility will serve the cells of Ojikai, Akere, Olupe and Ogerai an estimated population of more than 9,000 people.

For many years, residents from the above cells have been walking long distances to access medical services. The residents often need a stretcher to transport patients or a woman in labor to either Majengo Health Center III at the division headquarters of Lilim Health Center II in Lalei sub-county, Kamuda Health Center III in Soroti district, about 15kms away.

The residents say in most cases, mothers give birth on the way to the health facility or are assisted at their homes by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) because of lack of access to health centers.

“I have been assisting women in this village for more than 40 years because there is no health facility,” said Jessica Asio, a 70-year old traditional birth attendant.

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“I usually accompany those who develop complications to Majenjo Health Center III or Kamuda Health Center III, usually at night. Sometimes we fail to reach the hospital and it is my task to see that they have delivered,” she adds.

Nicodemus Eyangu, the vice chairperson Agora ward said that the situation becomes tougher during rainy seasons when they need to make a choice between carrying the mother in labor over the slippery roads or helping her deliver at home. According to him, of course some have died in the process.

“I have witnessed more than five people die before reaching the hospital in the past three years,” said Eyangu. He has also seen three women deliver on the way before reaching the health facility.

Narrating the ordeal, they go through, Eyangu said leaving home to get to either Majengo Health Center III or Kamuda Health Center III, for patients of malaria, they carry them on the back to reach the road where a motorcycle can be used.

He added that for the pregnant women, residents carry them on the mattresses and lift them to the nearby road.

Catherine Alem, a resident of Ogerai cell said that its for this reason why they are in jubilation when they received the good news about the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the health facility by their area member of parliament Jonathan Ebwalu.

She said that once the health facility is completed, it will save them from the burden of walking long distances to access health services.

“I am not supposed to construct a health center because it is not one of my functions as an MP. But following the public out-cry about how they suffer with accessibility to medical services, I decided to donate part of shs 200m government gave me for purchasing a car to start the construction of a health facility,” Ebwalu said.

The legislator added that as MPs, they are forced to intervene in the area of service delivery because our government has failed to reach everywhere.

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Sheema District Threatened By Banana Diseases

SHEEMA – Locals in Sheema district are perplexed over the anticipated famine yet to hit the district over the roaming banana diseases that have attacked the district.

Despite the increased market for bananas, it has continued to fetch low prices as a result of Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) challenges.

Farmers in Sheema district are in total despair after three banana diseases attacked their plantations. These diseases include; banana bacteria wilt [BBW], fusarium wilt and banana rust thrips.

David Twinamatsiko, the Sheema District Agriculture Officer (DAO) confirmed that there are several diseases attacking banana plantations but the most appealing one, being the rust thrips that needs serious attention for sustainable economic development and production of bananas within the district.

Twinamatsiko says rust thrips is caused by a fungus called anthracnose which damages bananas getting ready for harvest.

“We are getting concerned about rust thrips that is spreading fast in the district and municipality. It is a combination of two; the thrips and small insects which infest the banana plantation eating up the banana skin and leaving them damaged” Twinamatsiko said.

He explained that the banana fingers become hardened and turn either black or brown a reason as to why it is called brown black rusty thrips.

“The fungus doesn’t get any chance of growing on the undamaged finger but when there is damage then the anthracnose takes the advantage on the banana yield,” said Twinamatsiko.

Twinamatsiko says a total of more than 40 acres of banana plantations have recorded at least one of the above reported diseases since September 2020.

“Actually, this report was made on 10th September 2020 and BBW and fusarium wilt had spread all over but are a bit scanty, the most serious one is the rust thrips and I want to report to you that we are still battling with them in the district,” he emphasized.

Twinamatsiko says the reported intensified banana diseases have paralyzed sub-counties of, Kigarama, Kyangyenyi, Masheruka, Rugarama, Kitagata, then Kakindo town council and Shuuku town council.

He adds that the banana disease burden in Sheema stands at 57.5% out of 47,360 households with a total of about 220,000 people in the district.

“In Kigarama sub-county alone, banana bacteria wilt is at 3%, fusarium wilt at 2% then the rust thrips at 4% rampant in villages of Rwehundo, Nshongi Greater and Nshongi I. Then when you go to Masheruka it has 1% of BBW and fusarium wilt at 0.5% then the rusty thrips at 4% rampant in Bugarama village” said Twinamatsiko.

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Impact

Denis K. Hanest, the chairperson of Ntegyeza Bitokye and Agricultural Produce Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd, which unites banana farmers in three sub-counties of Kigarama, Kyangyenyi, Masheruka and two town councils of Kakindo and Masheruka town council says the banana diseases have truly affected banana production in the area.

“Currently we cut almost like 100,000 bunches a week but out of that you find that we remove almost 6,000 bunches infected by rust thrips disease,” Hanest explained.

Albert Ahimbisibwe, also owning about 2 acres of banana plantation in Shuuku town council told theCooperator that he started by seeing black bananas in Kabwohe market and he realized that rust thrip was soon encroaching on his banana plantation.

“I first saw most matooke in the market were black; then later after a week, I also realized my bananas changing color in the plantation,” says Ahimbisibwe.

Twinamatsiko says the affected bananas have some side effects on consumption and farmers lose value in terms of low production during the harvest.

“In most households, children have refused to eat matooke, remember it’s Covid-19 time and matooke is in abundancy. As long as it’s damaged by the thrips, if you cook such bananas, they don’t taste normal even the texture of the cooked matooke changes completely,” he explained.

DAO adds that the rust thrip infected bananas are also feared by customers in the markets and people have lost income and food security.

“It would lose color and of course from the outlook, the business people refuse to buy them and it doesn’t attract customers on your stall. Those who have tasted claim that it remains hard and difficult for eating though people have gone ahead to sell them,” Twinamatsiko said.

“People in the district are crying for government support in terms of food security but because our government operates in situations where there is an emergency or a calamity like hailstorm which comes suddenly when people are not prepared,” he adds.

Intervention

Twinamatsiko says the Ministry of Agriculture officials took samples directly to Kawanda but as a district, they haven’t gotten any agro-chemical solutions from researchers being a new problem in banana production.

“Several reports have been forwarded to our agriculture office which we equally forwarded to the ministry officials. They even came and picked samples when we first saw the symptoms to identify the exact diseases,” he explained.

“There are some agro-chemicals which we could use to kill these insects but the ministry is worried because it has not yet done enough research on the exact chemicals that can be applied to kill the fungus,” Twinamatsiko adds.

He says rust thrips disease has also spread to over 21 districts like Ibanda, Ntungamo, Fort Portal and some parts of Buganda.

However, Twinamatsiko says some cultural practices have helped farmers to avert the spread of banana diseases onto their plantations.

“We are advising them to use cultural practices like keeping the banana plantations weed free, removing the male buds to avoid the attraction of pests, birds and bees that can spread the fungus. We are also telling them to dig the composite pits and as they are decomposing the pests will equally die, “he advised.

Farmers expect quick responses but as a scientist, research findings don’t come out so quickly because it has to be tried several times thus encouraging farmers to be patient,” says Twinamatsiko.

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Leaders Tasked To Sort Emyooga Program Challenges

KIKUUBE – Dr. Emmanuel Aliba Kiiza, the board chairman of the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) has directed all district Emyooga task forces to find a way of sorting out challenges affecting the implementation of the Emyooga program.

Dr. Kiiza who is currently on a country wide tour to ascertain the success and challenges faced by the program after one year of its implementation held a meeting with Kikuube district leadership.

During the interaction with district leaders, Kiiza expressed concern that in the districts such as; Hoima, Kikuube, Kagadi, Kibaale and Kyenjojo among others which he visited, millions of Emyooga funds are yet to be disbursed to beneficiaries.

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According to him, most of the SACCOs have not yet accessed the funds due to delayed release of certificates and lack of savings by SACCO members among other issues.

He says that the district Emyooga task force should find means of addressing these challenges adding that the program was initiated to help the citizens to create jobs and wealth.

He says that the district Emyooga task force should get away of addressing these challenges. He explained that this program was initiated by the President to help the citizens to create jobs and wealth but unfortunately that the money is not benefiting the intended person as it continues to lay idle on SACCO accounts.

He advised the task force which is headed by Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) to meet the SACCO members to get away of relaxing the conditions of saving 30% to ensure that beneficiaries start accessing the funds.

He noted that continuing to keep the money in banks will not make any significant meaning.

Kiiza suggested that the percentage can be reduced from 30% at least to 20% to encourage the beneficiaries to save and access the funds.

“About the 30%, I would like to clarify on this one, this rule is not written on stone that it cannot be changed, what we want our people to know is that we want to encourage you to save, you can begin with 20%, you can begin with 25% but for us we are saying if you want to begin saving well, 30% is good for you but we do not know the challenges you people are going through; if you feel you have a challenge with saving 30%, then sit with your RDCs, sit with our team and agree on suitable figure that you will save,” Kiiza advised.

Peter Banura, Kikuube District Chairman explained that there is a need for more sensitization of the technical staff and the beneficiaries about the Emyooga program.

He says that the biggest challenge faced with the program is that many of the beneficiaries, up to now, think that Emyooga money was a political incentive because it was initiated during the political season, adding that this is the reason why the money is being mismanaged.

We need to always first give people financial literacy, not only to come to dump money; MSC should have an annual program of financial literacy throughout the year, even if there are no programs to bring money to people. This ensures the next phase of these initiatives comes when people are enlightened.

Amlan Tumusime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner (RDC) said that the program is progressing adding that the district has so far disbursed shs 758 million out shs 1.2 billion which was given to the district.

He explained that 300 people have so far benefited from the money adding that Shs 450 million which is still in banks was part of the money of the SACCOs whose accounts were frozen after the SACCO members started mismanaging the funds.

“We have lifted the ban on some SACCO accounts which had been frozen and members have started accessing their money but we have one SACCO of the drivers which refused to take the money claiming that Shs 30million was too little for them and I am planning to go and talk to them to ensure that they take this money,” he added.

Information indicates that Hoima District and Hoima Oil City received Shs 2.24 billion for the 72 beneficiary Savings and Credit Co-operatives Organizations (SACCOs) created out of 1,460 Emyooga associations.

However, only 15 out of 72 SACCOs, which got certificates four months ago, meet the requirements and have started accessing their money.

The 15 SACCOs only get Shs 110 .8 million out of the Shs 2.24 billion.

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Agro-input Dealers Tap Into SMS Marketing

LIRA – Agriculture is among the most hit sectors since Covid-19 emerged two years ago. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently announced a lockdown as a mitigating factor to curb the spread of the deadly virus with the country enduring wave after wave.

The second lockdown announced in June for 42 days came to an end this weekend. Since the pronouncement by President Museveni, like other sectors, farmers are stuck with their products.

The suspension of public transport, especially buses, had curtailed the movement of farmers from district to district. Ronald Odongo, a farmer used to enjoy the inter-district market.

For example, a dairy farmer from Kwania would sell their milk in major towns including Lira, Apac and Dokolo among others and earn more. Though it is still possible, the amount of milk such a farmer will sell today has reduced majorly because their market is under lockdown.

Every bad situation creates opportunities; Peter Odongo is among the latter, he is an agro input retail dealer based in Kwania district, who deals in seeds for vegetables and cereals, plus fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides and other agro-chemicals.

Odongo gives advice to clients on the best way to use the products for better yields. To reach the customers and to alert his 143 regular clients, when the new stock arrives, he sends them phone messages (SMS).

“I am using an SMS marketing strategy and this is all about marketing genuine products to customers as well as help them know where to get the stock and at what price,” he said.

“From between Shs 70,000 to shs 100,000 shillings profit I used to make on a daily basis, the SMS strategy has boosted my profit to about shs 200,000 from the stock I sell,” he adds.

Another input dealer Joyce Aceng not only sells her products through the texts sent to customers but also sends them appreciations or reminders. She uses MTN Pakapaka to send messages.

She noted that when she started using SMS marketing, her sales improved by 50%.

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“When I started the business three years ago, I would not sell even 10 bags of fertilizers, for instance, in a season yet they were the most wanted by farmers. After adopting SMS marketing, my sales improved and I now sell more than 30 bags in a day,” she reveals.

“I not only use SMS but also advertise on radio because some farmers have no mobile phones but have radios. This has also increased the customer base. ” she added, saying she started with a capital of Shs1.5m and raised it to Shs 6m. Currently, she values the business at shs 30m inclusive of expenses.

The net profits have increased from shs 1m to shs 3m. If business goes well, in the next five years, Aceng expects the net profit to hit shs10m.

Johnson Ojok Ocen, the district Production and Marketing Officer Kwania, also an agronomist explains that:

“Instead of standing behind counters waiting for customers, the dealers actively engage in marketing and promotion by using SMS or radios in order to sell the products to farmers and that is a very good idea that others should borrow,” he said in a phone interview.

Kwania District Commercial Officer, Patrick Bura says; “We know that SMS is a powerful tool that is used by almost everyone but agricultural input businesses were not taking advantage of it. I want to encourage agro-inputs dealers to use SMS for marketing,” he notes.

Selling farm inputs, is a growing business that an increasing number of people in Uganda are engaged in. But it is also a business known to have counterfeits and unscrupulous traders, though there are also several traders who strictly deal in genuine products.

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Amolatar returns Shs 2.3 billion to treasury, draws mix reactions

AMOLATAR – Residents in Amolatar district have had mixed reactions to the failure by the Amolatar district local government to use Shs 2.3 billion in the financial year 2020/2021.

Public Finance Management Act 2015 Section 17 (2) stipulates that a local government vote that does not spend money that was appropriated to the vote for the financial year shall at the close of the financial year, repay the money to the Consolidated Fund.

Amolatar returned Shs 2.3 billion, part of Shs 1.2 billion meant for construction projects at Biko Health Center III in Namasale Town Council and Awonangiro Health Center III in Agikdak Sub County.

Part of the money was meant for salaries of secondary school teachers that were not recruited and other civil servants whose recruitment had issues delaying their appointment letter issuance.

Meanwhile, Shs 300 million was meant for construction works at Ryan Seed Sec School in Etam Town Council.

Henry Ddamba, the Amolatar Chief Administrative Officer [CAO] confirmed returning the fund to the consolidated fund, attributing it to delays in the procurement process and late release of funds by the central government.

“As a district, we returned to the treasury a total of Shs 2.3 billion and that is not a good statistic because these funds are supposed to be given to us to spend but we were not able to spend, and the challenge has been a delay in procurement,” he said.

Returning the fund to the consolidated fund has drawn mixed reactions. Nelson Kinyera, a resident of Nalibwoyo village in Namasale Sub County, expressed disappointment upon returning the fund.

Kinyera noted that a number of health facilities are operating on rundown structures at the expense of incompetent leaders who can not utilize government money within the given time frame.

“It’s not the first time Amolatar is returning money to the treasury, this is the third time in a row that we are seeing money being returned to the consolidated fund at the expense of the service delivery gaps in the community,” he noted.

Another resident Mariam Yusufu of Apalipe cell in Amolatar town council blames the failure to use the fund to `kickback’ demands from contractors by the procurement teams.

She says cases of child maternal deaths are surging in the community and urged the district leaders to take steps to end this trend.

Interviewed by theCooperator on Thursday, Amolatar District Chairman Geoffrey Ocen, lashed out at the contractor that was given the contract to rehabilitate health facilities for being incompetent.

“The problem is that the contractor awarded the project is undertaking quite a number of projects that overwhelms his efforts; I will ensure the same scenario doesn’t repeat itself for effective service delivery,” he said in an interview.

End.

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Floods Displace Over 4,000 Families In Amolatar

AMOLATAR – Flash floods caused by the rising water levels of Lakes Kyoga and Kwania have displaced more than 4,000 families in Amolatar district.

The floods have submerged several kilometers of the district’s land and roads, disconnecting a number of community members from accessing social services.

Unlike last year, where only six out of 16 sub-counties in the district were affected, this year the entire district is experiencing the floods with most crop gardens that had survived the drought getting submerged in water alongside many households.

Nalobwoyo is one of the sub-counties completely cut off by floods. Its residents have to pay about Shs 3000 to be able to cross on a canoe to access medical services at the only Health Center (HC IV) in the district.

Victims however, fear they could be hit hard by famine and are calling for immediate relief supplies such as food relief, fast growing seeds, and shelter among others.

Alfred Ebong, a resident of Ocamolum parish says he almost lost his 4-year-old son when he failed to get to the health center due to the floods.

“I have now resorted to treating the child with local herbs, there is no way I can access the government health facility because all roads are cut off,” he said.

Francis Ojok, a resident of Opira “A” village, Nalibwoyo parish, Nalibwoyo sub-county is worried that people may start to die of hunger.

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Geoffrey Ocen, the District LCV Chairperson says the district is doing all it can to fix the roads.

“We are doing all we can to try to fix the problem, I am calling upon the central government to consider allocating more funds on road works in order to improve accessibility,” he said.

Moses Junior Okot B’tek, the Kioga County Member of Parliament argued that the entire population of Amolatar district should have been considered and supported instead of giving Covid-19 relief funds to vulnerable people in urban centers.

He says through the Lango Parliamentary group, he will keep pushing for the plight of the people of Amolatar until the government takes action.

“The vulnerability of the people of Amolatar that was caused by dry spells and floods should be known to both the Minister for Disaster Preparedness and the Prime Minister. Desperate times bring desperate means so we shall use desperate means to catch their attention.” he said in a telephone interview.

The kind of flooding being experienced in Amolatar District now is believed to be a repeat of what happened in 1964 where the entire district was covered in floods.

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Fishing Community On Lake Albert Cries For Help

HOIMA – Fishermen on Lake Albert in Hoima and Kikuube districts have appealed to the government to intervene into the continued attacks by Congolese militiamen.

Fishermen on shores of Lake Albert have been on tension since 2018 due to endless attacks by militia from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Several fishermen who operate on this Lake have been left jobless as the armed robbers wreak havoc and seize their fishing gears and other property.

Shalom Elderphose, one of the victims of the attackers at Kaiso landing site in Buseruka sub-county Hoima district says that militiamen have turned robbery on the lake into a business.

Elderphose who lost 12 boat engines and other fishing gears worth more than Shs 200 million to militia two months ago explained that they feel helpless since the government has totally failed to end the attacks.

He explained that every month the militiamen raid different landing sites on the lake and whenever they attack, they rob their properties which include boat engines, fish and fishing nets and even abduct their colleagues.

“After the robbery, these militiamen ask for ransom to give us back our fishing gear yet most fishermen have no money to pay. The robbers always demand between USD 300 to USD 500 for each boat engine in their hands and we have nowhere to get this money” said Elderphos.

“It looks like we do not have a government, yet we know that we have one with a powerful army, so as fishermen we request President Museveni to intervene by engaging the DR Congo government to address the rampant attacks on Ugandan fishermen,” he appealed.

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He also asked security agencies in the region to deploy on the lake so that they can at least patrol the waters three times a week to scare away the robbers. This can be a temporary measure as they seek lasting solution to the problem.

Robert Mujuni, the Chairperson of the fishing community at Kaiso landing site in Buseruka, sub-county, Hoima district, said that last month armed men raided the area and robbed equipment which included 14 boat engines, fishing nets and fish among other things.

He noted that the continued attacks have turned the fishermen jobless and poor since fishing is the main sauce of their income. He added that the attackers are demanding a lot of money to return the fishing vessels.

“For them, they take it as a business, they always come and invade us, take our motorboats, and fishing nets. They later demand for a ransom of between US 300 and USD 500 yet our fishermen have nowhere to get this kind of money,” Mujuni said, adding that more than 100 boat engines are in hands of the DRC militia because the fishermen failed to raise money to pay for their ransom.

He noted that cross-border meetings have been held several times but they have yielded nothing which continues to worry them.

“Whenever we complain to security agencies in the region about the issue, they tell us that they have forwarded the issue to their bosses but since 2018 nothing has changed, actually it has become a song.”

He demanded for the deployment of security forces on lake shores to provide fishermen with security.

“They should have patrols on these waters because when the thieves know that there is security patrolling the waters, they don’t come but due to lack of patrols they take advantage knowing that people are not protected,” he said.

Byaruhanga Serimosi, a fisherman who carries out his fishing business at Nsunzi landing site in Buhuka parish, Kyangwali sub-county Kikuube district said that the security at the lake has been taken over by the DRC militiamen. Byaruhanga is one of the fishermen who survived being killed last month after the assailants raided their boat, shot and injured them.

He noted that many of his colleagues have abandoned the fishing business because of this situation, adding that the assailants invaded them more than five times a month.

“We have been left as orphans, we have cried to our good government to save us from this situation since 2018 but our plea falls on deaf ears,” he said, adding that whenever they attack, they rob their fishing gear and boat engine.

While giving the State of the Kingdom address last month, the Kingdom Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga also expressed concern over the endless attacks on fishermen and demanded the government to intervene.

He noted that attacks and poor fishing methods by illegal entrants in the kingdom have affected the livelihood of the Kingdom subjects on the shores of Lake Albert.

“Our people have no other alternative source of livelihood for their families since all their fishing gears are always robbed by these militias. This government has the capacity to put this to an end so why should our people continue to suffer in the hands of the criminals?” he wondered.

“We have seen these attacks since 2018. Why can’t the government deploy its army to deal with these criminals if the government of Democratic Republic Congo has failed to control its army men who have turned into a challenge to the Ugandan fishermen?” he added.

He said that as fishermen they are ready to join the government if it means to attack the militiamen in their hideouts in DR Congo.

It is alleged that ruthless militiamen, after their mission, took off and crossed to Joo landing site in Bunia district Ituri Province in the Eastern part of the DR Congo.

Hoima District Chairperson Kadiri Kirungi, said that the issue of attacks is a cross border matter which needs the president’s intervention.

He said that he recently reported the issues to President Museveni who in turn, sent a team from State House who held a stakeholder meeting that took place in Hoima early this year but the team has not given him feedback.

The Hoima Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Yosam Tumwebaze says that the issue was beyond him but promised to consult his boss about the matter.

“I found this issue here; it is not new but we shall engage our marine forces to get a way of patrolling the waters to provide security to our people as we make consultations to find a way of ending this challenge,” he said.

Kikuube Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Amlan Tumusiime, condemned the continued attacks on Ugandan fishermen and expressed concern that fishermen are suffering as if they are not in their country.

He also promised to have consultations with his boss to ensure that they organize cross-border meeting with their counterparts from the DRC government to get a way of addressing the continued attacks and robberies on Ugandan waters of Lake Albert.

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Teachers Urged To Join Walimu SACCO

SERERE – Teachers in Pingire County, Serere district have been asked to join the Walimu Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCO), a savings scheme established by the government of Uganda with the aim of improving teachers’ lives across the country.

From 2015 to date, the government of Uganda has so far injected Shs 17.8 billion into Walimu SACCO.

According to Fred Opolot, the Member of Parliament for Pingire County, the fund that teachers get through the SACCO helps them to establish individual income-generating projects. He said, this in-turn improves on their efficiency since they won’t live in fear of being chased by financial institutions over unpaid loans.

Opolot made these remarks on Monday during the award ceremony of best performers in the 2020 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). Each of the seven candidates who passed in first grade was rewarded with a mattress, woolen blanket, bucket and a dozen of counter books.

Opolot urged teachers to join the Walimu SACCO so that they can get other government opportunities to boost their financial capacities.

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He stressed that it is an urgent cause because teachers have been involved in multiple loan borrowing from money lenders, something that has made them not to perform in class due to the fear of being arrested.

“I will start the initiative of training teachers on the importance of financial discipline and good finances management because we have observed that many of them take multiple loans that end up affecting their performance in schools,” Opolot said.

Opolot noted that improved financial management by teachers will make them economically stable and boost their teaching morale hence contributing to better performance in schools.

He explained that multiple loan borrowing is one of the main factors keeping teachers out of schools.
He said some teachers have opted for Boda-boda work at the expense of teaching with the aim of looking for ways of repaying loans.

“The issue of teachers having multiple loans affects their performance as this makes them unsettled at their schools. They are always looking through the windows to check if loan officers are coming. This for many years has affected us, as a district,” the legislator said.

Opolot observed that teachers are not enjoying their work because their minds are disturbed with loan issues as many of them have become addicted to borrowing.

Meanwhile, Michael Okiror, the headteacher of Pingire Primary School said that teachers first need to be sensitized on the importance of joining the Walimu SACCO.

“Whenever it comes to loans, headteachers realize it when banks invade schools to know about the presence of teachers who borrowed from them. They have local SACCOs but those who do not want to save, are the ones who borrow loans from money lenders without first seeking for advice,” Okiror said.

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MSC Board Chairman Commends Masindi Authorities

MASINDI – Emmanuel Kiiza Aliba, the new chairman board of Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) has commended Masindi district authorities for the proper implementation of the Emyooga program.

Aliba is in Bunyoro sub-region on a fact-finding mission, to see how the Emyooga program is preforming.

Yesterday, he had an impromptu closed-door meeting at the Resident District Commissioners (RDC) office with a section of Masindi district leaders including Rose Kirabira, the RDC, Pamela Nyakato Secretary for Finance, Moses Kalyegira the District Commercial Officer (DCO) and the Municipal Commercial Officer.

“He came with the impression that the money had been disbursed but still stuck on the district accounts. But he was surprised to find that Masindi district had given out 98% of the money to the beneficiaries. He told those in attendance of the meeting that in other districts in the region, they have given out only 10% to the beneficiaries. He took it as a success for Masindi,” explained Moses Kalyegira, the Masindi District Commercial Officer while speaking to theCooperator in his office on Tuesday.

Kalyegira noted that Masindi district received Shs 1.68 billion, adding that Shs 1.48 billion has been disbursed to 54 Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) which were formed in the entire district to benefit from the program.

https://thecooperator.news/nine-saccos-cleared-to-receive-emyooga-funds-in-masindi/

He also explained that Shs 536 million has been realized as savings from the 54 SACCOs and Shs 130 million has been recovered from the beneficiaries.

“We would be doing better than this but we have been disrupted by the lockdown and the long dry spell we have experienced because many people have made losses. But I am optimistic that when the situation normalizes, we are going to do much better than this,” Kalyegira said.

He also indicated that they have a challenge of big SACCOs with many associations explaining that the Shs 30 million is too small for the members to do something tangible.

He highlighted categories like the Boda-bodas, market vendors, produce dealers among others.

Back ground

Emyooga is a Presidential Cluster Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation which was introduced in 2019.

In Bunyoro sub-region, it was officially launched in July last year by the State Minister for Microfinance, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo in Masindi district.

The 19 clusters selected to benefit from the program include Boda-boda riders, salon owners, carpenters and taxi operators, welders, market vendors, journalists, performing artists, mechanics among others.

Under the project, each enterprise group with a minimum of 30 members is supposed to receive up to Shs 30m in funding, which is accessed as a revolving fund by members to boost their respective income-generating ventures, at the interest rate of as low as 5% annually.

In Masindi, for a beneficiary to get money, he or she should have saved 30% of the money he or she wants.

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Police Collects 10m From Motorists In Lango

LIRA – Police in the North Kyoga region has collected Shs 10,880,000 from motorists defying the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Lango sub-region in one month.

The money has been collected through fines from Boda-boda riders and drivers caught operating beyond curfew hours as well as those found carrying passengers.

This money was collected from the four districts of Otuke where 32 motorists were arrested and charged; Oyam where 43 motorists and 13 drivers were nabbed; in Dokolo district, police impounded 24 motorcycles and Lira where 23 drivers and 48 motorcycles were impounded.

All the money is said to have been deposited in the government account.

https://thecooperator.news/errant-boda-bodas-warned-you-will-be-banned/

Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga police spokesperson says the Boda-boda riders and some people with private cars have continued to defy the guidelines which exposes everyone to risk.

Okema also acknowledged the possibility of extortion by some police officers executing these guidelines but said no victims have made any formal complaints, something he says is affecting the fight against corruption.

“If only a member of the public could help us cite one or two officers so that they can serve as an example to the others. But unfortunately, these are just rumors within the community and do not come directly to the police. If only they could do that, we would be able to deal with such things.”

However, Newton Ocen, a Boda-boda rider, says the need to provide for their families as well as meet their other needs has forced them to breach the presidential directives. Ocen, who used to make between Shs 30,000 to Shs 40,000 is now making a maximum of Shs 10,000 a day.

Jimmy Ocen, another rider in Lira said he has resorted to selling his belongings to service a loan he took to acquire a motorcycle.

On June 18th 2021, President Yoweri Museveni issued guidelines to curb the spread of Covid-19. Among these was observance of curfew starting 7:00pm, restriction of PSV and private cars while Boda-bodas were limited to carrying only cargo from 6:30am to 5pm.

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