By Weswa Ronnie
BUKWO
The State Minister for Finance in-charge of Microfinance, has revealed that the government will start broadcasting the names of Emyooga fund defaulters on radio stations and other media platforms as a Way of recovering the money.
Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo made the remarks on Wednesday, 29th May, 2024 at Kameti Primary School play Grounds at Kameti Sub- County in Bukwo district during the ongoing countrywide tour for monitoring and evaluation of Emyooga program.
The Emyooga program was launched in August 2019 by the President as presidential initiative aimed at wealth and job creation.
The President’s aim was to transform 68% of homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production.
According to minister Kasolo, Bukwo District has 36 Emyooga Saccos which were formed in 2021, each Sacco received 30 million shillings but recovery is too poor.
He instructed the district commercial officers at respective districts to compile a list of beyond two years of defaulters then hand over the names to the his Ministry.
The minister warned that after getting defaulters names, they are going to publish them in the media such that the defaulters can pay back.
Bessie Modesta Ajilong, the RDC of Bukwo, confirmed that the recovery rate of Emyooga funds is low in her district saying that some beneficiaries mistakenly believed that the funds were a gift from the President.
Ritah Namuwenge, the National Coordinator of Emyooga Program emphasized that the funds are a revolving loan but not a grant as many think.
She warned defaulters to pay money before the end of this financial year or risk being arrested.
The Minister’s monitoring program enters day two, and today (Thursday) the team is in Kween district.
