By Emmanuel Olinga
Beneficiaries of the Emyooga program in Katakwi District have been strongly urged to repay the funds they borrowed under the initiative to allow other community members to benefit from the revolving scheme.
This call was made during a two-day financial literacy and mindset-building engagement held alongside the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for veterans’ SACCOs from Ngariam, Toroma, and Usuk counties.
The meetings, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, were led by the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) and brought together stakeholders including SACCO leaders, district officials, and program coordinators.
Reports presented at the AGM revealed a low loan recovery rate in Katakwi District, a situation that threatens the sustainability of the Emyooga initiative.
Francis Elwoku, the Regional Manager of MSC in charge of Eastern Uganda, which includes the sub-regions of Teso, Busoga, Bukedi, Bugisu, and Sebei, urged Emyooga beneficiaries to pay back loans so that the funds can benefit others in the community.
“Elwoku noted that the Emyooga fund is a revolving resource meant to support multiple beneficiaries. If those who received funds fail to repay, it undermines the goal of community-wide wealth creation,” he said.
Elwoku announced that an additional UGX 20 million in seed capital would be extended to women entrepreneurs’ SACCOs in Katakwi to boost their operations.
He encouraged SACCO members to embrace a savings culture and fulfill their loan obligations to remain eligible for future support.
Patrick Todi, the Katakwi District Commercial Officer, revealed that the district has so far received a total of UGX 2.4 billion in Emyooga seed capital since the program’s inception.
However, he noted that the impact is being diluted by poor loan recovery and low levels of saving among beneficiaries.
Flavia Asekenye and Hellen Asio, representatives of women SACCOs in Katakwi, highlighted the challenges SACCOs face in recovering loans from members.
They acknowledged the success stories of some groups but emphasized that many others are underperforming.
According to Asekenye, Toroma County received UGX 70 million in seed capital, distributed across ten associations, but only seven are still active.
Usuk County currently has four active associations, while Ngariam County has 27 associations, five of which have benefited from UGX 77.8 million in funding.
The county SACCOs have recorded UGX 24 million in savings and UGX 100,000 in share capital contributions.
Geoffrey Omolo, the Katakwi District Chairperson (LCV), applauded government efforts to improve household incomes through programs like Emyooga.
He recalled a previous initiative in 2014 when President Yoweri Museveni supported market vendors in Katakwi with UGX 41 million.
“Such government interventions aim to stimulate self-reliance and wealth creation,” said Omolo.
“But for these programs to succeed, beneficiaries must embrace a strong culture of saving and timely loan repayment.”
Omolo also lauded the role of women entrepreneurs in the district, praising their commitment to SACCOs and their drive to transform their families through entrepreneurship.
Vice President Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, who is also the Woman Member of Parliament for Katakwi District, reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering women through wealth creation initiatives.
She acknowledged the financial struggles many women face and said government interventions like Emyooga are designed to help them overcome poverty.
Alupo promised to lobby for additional support for women entrepreneurs, including the provision of fresh dairy cows and traditional gomesi dresses.
She also encouraged MSC to organize learning visits for SACCO leaders to President Museveni’s demonstration farm in western Uganda as a way to motivate and expose them to best practices.
“The government is aware of the burden women bear in households, and it’s our responsibility to support them through these programs,” Alupo said.
“But this support must be matched with responsibility, especially in repaying loans and managing SACCO operations effectively.”
The Vice President emphasized the need for women to “pull up their socks” in terms of loan recovery and accountability, urging the Microfinance Support Centre to continue offering technical assistance and monitoring to ensure success.
The Emyooga initiative, launched as a presidential wealth creation program, operates on an affordable interest rate of 8% per annum and targets SACCOs formed around specific vocations to uplift communities economically.
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