The State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, yesterday led a training session for SACCO leaders, commercial officers, district leaders, and members of the youth and women leagues from Bukedi, Busoga, and Bugisu sub-regions at the Bukedi Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Kibuku district.
The training was aimed at guiding leaders on the proper management and accountability of the SACCO funds disbursed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to support the beneficiaries of the Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs to set-up businesses after the six months skills training. Recently, President Museveni injected Shs8.8 billion to SACCOs under the Skilling hubs with an intention of empowering the beneficiaries with start-up capital. Each SACCO received Shs50 million.
While addressing the trainees, Ms. Barekye emphasized transparency, teamwork, and the need for leaders to monitor the progress of initiative in their respective areas to ensure the funds achieve their intended purpose of transforming livelihoods. “We have come here with technical people to train you on how to use this money. We don’t want to give you this money before you are fully trained because it might do more harm than good,” she said.
“SACCO leaders, please be honest. Your offices are going to be busy but don’t first divide this money amongst yourselves, you are leaders, and I know most of you are doing well compared to the rest, so first consider those who have no capital,” she added.
Ms. Barekye also noted that the President’s vision is to see every trainee engaged in productive work after being trained in different skills at the industrial hubs. “There are some people who have skills but have no capital, now the President has empowered you, utilise the money well,” she urged. “The President has sent me to tell you that the SACCOs that perform well will be given more money after elections. Don’t worry, this is the beginning.”
She further appealed to married women not to be misled by their husbands and end up diverting the SACCO money. “Your husbands should not mislead you, invest this money in skills you acquired from here which will help you to yield something, then you can spend after you have got profits,” Ms. Barekye emphasised.
She also appealed to the SACCO leaders and government officials like the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) to do due diligence and ensure that the loans benefit the intended parties. She warned that any person who will misappropriate the funds will be arrested and prosecuted. “You should utilize this chance well; the interest rate is 6% per annum compared to the “kafuuna” money (money from money lenders) which is usually 10% per month. The President has given you this money, utilize it very well,” Ms. Barekye said.
In her concluding remarks, she appealed to the SACCO leaders not to ask for application fees of the loans from the eligible beneficiaries. “The President’s money is free, don’t ask for application fees from anyone,” she asserted.
The Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha informed the trainees that the four new courses which the President added in the hubs will start in January, next year. “We have 19 hubs across the country, and we have been having 7 courses which include among others tailoring, building and construction, welding and metal fabrication, baking and hairdressing but President Museveni added 4 more courses which are plumbing, electric installation, automobile mechanics, weaving and knitting and they are to start in January,” he said.
He further cautioned leaders against asking for bribes from trainees in order to be recruited. “I’m told that there are some officials who ask for recruitment fees. Whoever asks for it, please let me know and we deal with them,” he noted.
Eng. Kamugisha also tasked leaders to support the skills initiative beneficiaries by creating opportunities for them where they can be able to supply their products and services through local government tenders. “Just one tender can change your life. Like those who build, why would you get people from far to build for you, yet we have these children who have graduated from here? Let’s be patriotic and love these children, we want to help them so that they can be of use in future,” he added.
On the other hand, success stories were heard from the beneficiaries of Bukedi Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub.
Lagos Jane, a former tailoring student who is now doing exceedingly well with her own workshop, said she now employs three people, and she is able to save Shs50,000 per day. “I want to thank President Museveni for the help he extended to me. I gained a lot from the skilling hub which has helped me to change my life, and I’m even able to help my family,” she said. “After the course, I emerged as the best student, and I was awarded with Shs7 million. With that money, I was able to set up my own workshop.”
Another beneficiary, Joy Munialo who now owns a beauty salon in Namisindwa district, thanked President Museveni for the skilling opportunity. “My husband left me for a working woman because I was not educated, and at that time I had just been operated on while giving birth, but I decided to apply to Bukedi Industrial hub and I was very lucky to be admitted,” she said.
The training is part of a nationwide effort to equip leaders with financial management skills and ensure the sustainability of government empowerment programs.