Some members and leaders of SACCOs in Kampala Central have decried the corruption involved in the process of accessing government rescue packages especially Emyooga a presidential initiative on wealth and job creation.
They accused Hajjat Hawa Namugenyi Ntege Deputy (RCC) Kampala Central of frustrating Emyooga program by extorting money from applicants and creating fake SACCOs and leaving out genuine beneficiaries.
Kisitu Geoffrey, the chairperson of one the Groups says that the Deputy RCC frequently request for 30% which is equivalent to 3 million Shillings from each group before processing a certificate.
Kisitu, added that their group was denied certificates until they mobilized the fund from the committee members to enable them be considered for the 30mllion initiative.
A member of Kampala Central Division PWDs Emyooga SACCO, explained that they were given Shillings 30 million but were told by RCC to first raise Shs 4 million from other sources before withdrawing the cash. She says that they questioned why the groups that President Museveni wanted to get out of poverty need to pay for certificates.
She also request for 30% for every withdrawal made from the Bank, especially from us who are saving with Trust Bank, making it difficult for us to gain from the projects and repay the loans, adding that this has led members to keep their money from offices which in a long run fails the design and Emyooga structural implementation.
Emyooga project the broader NRM principle of socio-economic transformation was launched in October 2020 by President Yoweri Museveni with the aim of extending seed capital to boost 800 groups of Sacco’s of law income earners involving jobs like Taxi operation, Boda boda riders and Market traders among others. The groups sharing Shs 26bn and Shs14bn for Wakiso district Shs 10bn.
So far 200 SACCO’s in Kampala Central, among them market vendors, tailors, Persons with disabilities (PWD’s), youth leaders, salons, performing artists, Kampala Operational Taxi Stages Association (KOTSA), Boda-Boda Entrepreneurs and elected leaders have received the funds, with about 300 applications kept in RCC’s office at Parliament for failing to pay the bribes.
Mugisha Faruk from Rubaga road, stated that for every Community Based Organization (CBO) that is opened in the village, the RCC request for some kick backs before offering the recommendation.
They also accused her of being arrogant, un approachable, promoting bad relationship between the political leaders and expressed poor leadership skills by coming late to work and always living early.locks herself in office and only attends to problems of people with money She does not pick phone calls from ordinary people.
State Minister for Microfinance Hon Haruna Kyeyuna Kasolo has always been emphasizing to leaders that the certificates are supposed to be issued at no cost because the initiative is free and aimed at getting people out of poverty. Adding that the only money required is 10,000 shillings for membership and this is paid to the chairperson who deposits it at the group’s accounts.
Residents call on President Museveni to come to their rescue or else they will soon protests against Hajjat Hawa Namugenyi Ntege Deputy (RCC) Kampala Central whom they say that is promoting anti NRM government tendencies.
Efforts to talk to Hajjat Hawa by press time were futile as she could not pick up our calls to respond to the said allegations.