Katakwi Emyooga Veterans Sacco Receives Ugx 110 m Boost from Micro Finance Support Centre, Office of Vice President.

By Emmanuel Olinga

Katakwi District Veterans SACCO, with over 200 members in Ngariam , usuk and Toroma on 30th May 2025 received 60 million shillings from a microfinance support center as seed funding for a financial boost.

Also, veterans Sacco also got a donation of shillings 50 million for completion of Veterans house.

The three Saccos have 200 members who joined and subscribed for a charge of shillings 20,000 respectively and a share capital of shillings 10,000.

They also believe in saving as a means of building the Sacco, which they then distribute in loans at an interest rate of 8% recovered after a year.

Before handing Dami the check, Francis Eruoku, Regional Manager of Micro Support Centre, explained that the support is a continuation of previously distributed funds, noting that they have supported the district with two tractors in groups of Kapujan Seeds Cooperative and Ongogngoja Cooperative in Toroma and Usuk, respectively that are seen transformed the saccos.

Joseph Barraza, Regional Manager of the Greater Buganda and Bunyoro Subregions and Member of the Business Development Services Micro Support Center, who represented the Executive Director, provided four motorbikes to each of the four Boda-Boda saccos, and they now plan to provide tractors to veterans.

Interim chairperson of Katakwi Veterans Sacco, Rtd. Maj Alex Ocodio, says the organization is thriving, noting that they have already built a house for veterans. He was grateful for the boost to the Sacco because it will help them advance farther.

Egele Gabriel Abuderi of the LC1 Central Cell claims veterans have encountered challenges and urges the government to reconsider them.

He praised the Vice President for partnering and revitalizing the Micro Support Centre, but encouraged the government to provide veterans with tractors to help modernize agriculture.

Lieutenant Rtd. Col. Robert Ariko, representative of the three counties of Veterans Emyooga, asked for financial assistance in building an office space fully equipped with computers

He claims that the three Saccos first received shillings 150 million, with each receiving shillings 50 million, and he urges the government to provide seed cash so that saccos can expand to fulfill the need of nonmembers.

He did, however, welcome the presidential initiative, which he claims has lifted them out of poverty.

Patrick Todi, District Commercial Officer and Emyooga’s focal point person, praised the government’s efforts to strengthen the Katakwi Sacco, stating that it will be a turning point in organizing veterans to participate in wealth programs.

However, he claimed that Katakwi has only 16 active Emyooga Saccos out of 57 Emyooga Saccos, calling for full embracing of government programs.

He emphasized that the difficulty with saccos not progressing is a poor mindset and a masquerader attitude, as people feel the monies are free locally Kasimo, Ikapun Lu akwain, despite the fact that they are solely for investment.

He also highlighted poor loan recovery, with only 23% repaid, and a bad saving culture, which is critical for growth, adding that three saccos have only saved 48 million since its commencement.

Her excellence. Vice President Maj. Rtd. VP Alupo Jessica Rose Epel. Who joined three Saccos of Usuk, Ngariam, and Toroma Emyooga Veterans Sacco by paying 20,000 in registration and subscriptions urged veterans to be champions in government programs, especially with the increase in Emyooga funds, so that the other 57 saccos can persuade to grow well for social economic transformation for Ugandans.

After handing over the cheque of Ugx 60 million for three Emyooga saccos in the counties of Ngariam, Usuk, and Toroma, the Vice President’s Office and Central Executive Committee chairperson for Veterans Museire also provided Veterans Sacco with an additional 50 million shillings for the completion of the Veterans House in Katakwi town council.

Alupo, also the chairperson for Veterans in Katakwi District, vowed to mobilize additional resources stating that her Office will advocate for the donation of tractors to the three counties of Ngariam, Usuk, and Toroma in order to modernize agriculture and develop a money economy.