Masindi Emyooga fund defaulters face arrest
He stressed that some Emyooga SACCO members, mostly leaders, have intentionally refused to clear their arrears, which is contrary to the program’s objective.
By Innocent Atuganyira
Masindi: The deputy resident district commissioner for Masindi, Sanon Dhaala, has threatened to arrest the Emyooga fund defaulters.
Dhaala said that next week they will carry out an operation in the district that will see the Emyooga fund defaulters arrested, noting that they will start with SACCO leaders who have refused to clear their arrears.
This was disclosed on Wednesday during the Masindi Municipal Emyooga Chairpersons Review Meeting held at the municipal chambers.
Dhaala stressed that some Emyooga SACCO members, mostly leaders, have intentionally refused to clear their arrears, which is contrary to the program’s objective.
”Recently, we arrested Emyooga fund defaulters from Bwijanga sub county, and we are going to conduct an operation targeting the defaulters, and we shall start with SACCO leaders because they are supposed to lead by example,’’ he said, stressing that some leaders have instead used their positions to default.
He therefore said such people will face arrest next week if they fail to clear the arrears, stressing that the vice has an impact on the program, which is intended to eradicate poverty and improve household income.
Emmanuel Twinomuhwezi, the Zonal Manager, Hoima, advised members who haven’t cleared their arrears to do so in order for other members to benefit from the program.
‘’This program wasn’t a token from the government as some people think; it is intended to eradicate poverty and improve household income, and funds are resolvable in order to benefit many people,’’ he clarified.
Twinomuhwezi said the fund belongs to SACCO members, stressing that defaulters are hindering other members from benefiting from the program. He re-echoed that starting next week, together with the resident district commissioner and the district task force, they will arrest the defaulters.
‘’I’m calling upon the SACCO leaders who have arrears to clear them, because they are supposed to lead by example. During the arrest of defaulters next week, we shall start with the leaders,’’ he added.
Patrick Asiimwe, the Masindi Municipality Deputy Town Clerk, disclosed that there are SACCOs that are not performing well, mostly in loan recovery.
‘’There are ups and downs that are being reported; you’re not all doing well. The reason why we came here to review was basically to check ourselves to see if we are performing as expected,’’ he said.
He stressed that despite groups having ample time to prepare their documents for the review meeting, out of 18, only 4 reported for a meeting with a well-detailed report. Asiimwe, however, said there is still a chance to rectify their mistakes before next time since they are expecting officials from the state house.
‘’You had enough time to rectify your mistakes, but out of 18 groups, only four have come with a well-detailed report; however, you still have time up to next week because we are expecting officials from the state house who will come to audit all government programs in the district,’’ he added.
Asiimwe also implored the defaulters who have cleared their arrears to do so in order not to be arrested since the fund is a resolving fund intended to benefit all members.
The Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (Emyooga) was launched in August 2019 as part of the broad government strategy targeting to transform 68% of homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production with the overall objective of promoting job creation and improving household incomes.
The initiative is centered on various 18 categories/enterprises/Emyooga, covering the majority of the hitherto financially excluded Ugandans engaged in similar specialized enterprise categories.
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