CORRUPTION KILLING COOPERATIVES, SACCOS—OFFICIAL

Greater Bushenyi cooperative and Sacco leaders attending a workshop in Bushenyi town organized by Global communities and USAID

CHRIS AND RICHARD FROM GLOBAL COMMUNITIES DURING THE WORKSHOP IN BUSHENYI TOWN YESTERDAY

DAVID BYAMUKAMA-DCO BUSHENYI DISTRICT PRESENTING A PAPER AT THE WORKSHOP YESTERDAY

BY WILBER MUWEZI

IN BUSHENYI—

The field director for Global communities Mr. Chris Ibyisintabyo has revealed that the major problem Saccos and Cooperative societies is the  board members who take over office and refused to leave when their terms office expire and continue stealing the organizations’ money.

He noted that these board members spend the money as it comes in the organization and claim that the books are balancing when actually there’s no value added

He added added that even the leadership they offer (board members) is wanting In terms of proper administrative skills to steer the organizations to higher levels

He revealed that most of the board members of these organizations are ignorant about the Cooperative act of 1991 which governs cooperatives and Saccos in Uganda

He also said that they Have not participated in the new bill that is going to replace the cooperative act because of lack of knowledge of laws that govern cooperatives and saccos

Mr. Chris said this yesterday evening while presenting a paper on how the  organization he works for– Global communities works, where its is situated, challenges and plans it has to help saccos and cooperative societies in the region.

The one day meeting/workshop was attended by leaders of saccos and cooperative societies from the five districts that form greater Bushenyi. Multipurpose hall in Bushenyi town was the venue for the meeting.

Bushenyi district commercial office Mr.David byamukama called upon leaders of saccos and cooperatives not to mess up these organizations because they play a big role in reducing poverty in greater Bushenyi

He noted that greater Bushenyi has the highest number of Saccos in the country, 149 and this is attributed to visionary polical civil leaders who have presided over starting of these Saccos.

He also echoed Chris’s concern that some board members and managers are corrupt and in the end run down some of the saccos and cooperatives. He added that the majority board members are business men and their main target is  to get money out of these Saccos and cooperatives for their own benefits

Peter Tumuhimbiise the manager Butuuro Sacco noted that the biggest problem is facing are some political leaders who borrow money and don’t return it and because they are leaders, they use their offices to fight any force that wants them to pay

Tumuhiimbise also said that Global communities should establish a network where  information is shared among Saccos to fight those who don’t want to pay back the loans

David byamukama also revealed that they in advanced stages to revive the Cooperative bank which was closed around 1997 and it had many branches in major district in many coutry