Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization-SACCOs in Mukono district is yet to recover funds that were disbursed to beneficiaries under the Emyooga program.
The district registered 1,093 associations forming 51 Saccos in Mukono North, Mukono South and Nakifuma County. Each of the Saccos received 30 Million Shillings.
Meeting Members of Parliament assessing the impact of the program, the Principal Commercial Officer Beatrice Owembabazi said that none of the associations has returned the money.
According to Owembabazi, the three counties in February received 1.6 Billion Shillings.
Emyooga was launched in 2019 aiming at creating jobs and improving household incomes of Ugandans in various categories including the Boda Boda riders, journalists, taxi drivers, restaurant owners, artists, welders among others. The program is a revolving fund and the repayment period is six months.
Kenneth Ntege, the District Commercial Officer says some of the associations who borrowed the money were disrupted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also said that the ban on public transport also hindered the movement of commercial officers to monitor the program.
Fred Kayondo, the Mukono South MP says the disbursed money is inadequate to improve the welfare of the community.
The District Woman MP Mukono Hanifah Nabukeera requested the commercial officers to print out the list of the beneficiaries before asking the government to increase the funds.
Members of Parliament are currently on a working recess to assess the impact of Emyooga funds in their constituencies before the commencement of the 490 Billion Shillings Parish Development Model.
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