Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, the Minister of State Microfinance and Small Enterprises has urged leaders in Kazo and Kiruhura districts to join Emyooga SACCOs to inspire community members to also join as the government strives to improve household incomes across the country.

Hon, Kasolo made the remarks today during The Microfinance Support Centre Ltd visit to Kazo County, in Kazo district to continue with monitoring of the performance of program within the constituency. The event has been graced by the district Kazo district leaders and beneficiaries.

Rv. Samuel Mugisha; the LC 5 Chairman, Kazo district has assured the population that the Emyooga program is going to succeed without a doubt. “We shall not allow any disruptions. We shall deal with any person who tries to bring in corruption. We aren’t going to allow anybody to disrupt the program,” he said.

Emyooga is a new Presidential Initiative that is centered on Various Enterprises aimed at Promoting Job Creation and Improving Household incomes of Ugandans.

Three family members have been confirmed dead and one other seriously injured after a fire broke out in their home in Wabomba cell, Nakaloke Town council, Mbale Northern Division, Mbale City on Tuesday evening.

Police identified the deceased as Jamal Mutoto, 30, Sowedi Impiangu, 35, and Wilberforce Naifuge 20. Ekesa Konstant, 30, sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at Mbale regional referral hospital.

Moses Okello, an eyewitness said one of the victims forgot to fasten the lid on the jerry can containing petrol and as the woman was lighting the charcoal stove, it caught fire and it spread very fast. Okello added that the neighbors’ attempts to rescue the deceased were futile.

Richard Wekesa, a resident of Nakaloke town council, said the deceased were burnt to death as they tried to rescue their properties.

Rogers Taitika, the Elgon region police spokesperson said preliminary reports indicate that fire is suspected to have spread from a charcoal stove on the veranda to the room where the victims had stored fuel that they sold in jerry cans and bottles as a family business for a long time.

The Government of Uganda through the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (Emyooga Programme) has given shillings 300 million to the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu Emyooga SACCOs.

The shillings 300 million is meant to benefit 10 SACCOs under the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu. Each of the ten SACCOs will receive shillings 30 million to boost their local associations and help the members come out of absolute poverty.

The beneficiaries include Bukonzo West OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO, Bukonzo East OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO, Busongora South OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO, and Busongora North OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO and Kasese Municipality OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO.

Others are Bukonzo West OBR Veterans SACCO, Bukonzo East OBR Veterans SACCO, Busongora South OBR Veterans SACCO, Busongora North OBR Veterans SACCO and Kasese Municipality OBR Veterans SACCO.

Hellen Petronilla Masika, the Deputy Executive Director for the Microfinance Support Centre, a government owned institution that manages all government micro credit programmes revealed to the beneficiary group members during their training on how to use the money that was held at Collins Palm Gardens that they money had been wired on their accounts. 

She however warned the beneficiaries against misappropriation of the Emyooga funds, saying the defaulters would be arrested and prosecuted.

The Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Joseph Kule Muranga hailed government for considering them to also benefit from the Emyooga programme and pledged to use the funds for the purpose for which they were meant.

The Kasese Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Joshua Kisembo Masereka strongly warned the beneficiaries against the continued misuse of government funds and property given to the cultural institution.