Emyooga SACCO Leaders Urged to Improve Performance in Rukungiri

Ms. Jackie Namutebi, an official from the Microfinance Support Centre, has challenged leaders of Emyooga SACCOs to focus on improving their SACCOs in order to achieve the presidential vision of fighting poverty in Uganda.

She stressed the importance of increasing savings in these SACCOs and ensuring that borrowed money, in the form of loans, is repaid on time to benefit other members.

She made these remarks while addressing leaders of Emyooga SACCOs from across Rukungiri District during a meeting aimed at sharing knowledge on how to grow the SACCOs and revive those that are performing poorly.

She noted that Emyooga is one of the best poverty-eradication programs, although many people have misunderstood it and taken it for granted.

She added that the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) has continued to support the program by providing additional seed capital to some Emyooga SACCOs in the Kigezi sub-region to boost their operations.

She said the Emyooga program in the Kigezi sub-region is reported to be successful, with members using the funds to enhance vocational skills, such as tailoring, improve the quality of their work, and secure contracts.

Pr. Laban Ainembabazi, the chairperson of the steering committee for the Emyooga program in Rukungiri District, said the district would have progressed further in the program but is being held back by poorly performing SACCOs. He added that efforts are underway to revive them.

He highlighted some SACCOs that had collapsed but are now being revived, including Rujumbura Artists Emyooga SACCO and Rubabo Salon Emyooga SACCO. He also noted that Rubabo Boda Boda Emyooga SACCO is the best-performing SACCO in the district.

Calorine Atuhaire, the Rukungiri Commercial Officer, cited challenges affecting the program, including low savings, loan defaulters, and dormant SACCOs such as Rubabo Taxi Operators Emyooga SACCO, Rubabo Youths Emyooga SACCO, and Rujumbura Veterans Emyooga SACCO, among others.