MUSHANGA SACCO CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN STYLE, FOUNDERS URGE BOARD, MEMBERS TO KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante

www.mknewslink.com

In Sheema

Mushanga SACCO Ltd located in Ankole sub region headquartered in Sheema district has today 24^th Oct.2020 celebrated 50 years of existence with few surviving  founders calling upon the current board and members to keep the fire burning.

The function was held at Mushanga catholic recreation Centre in Sheema district.

The first general secretary of the SACCO in 1979 Mzee Boniface Kiriwali narrated how they started the SACCO with assistance of Italian Reverend Father at the parish in Mushanga.

Mzee Kiriwali revealed how the politics of DP and UPC affected the SACCO because they were looked at as DP supporters since it was under the Catholic Church.

He added that this delayed their registration which was attained in 1981. Mzee Kiriwali wrote a book about the history of Mushanga SACCO and this helped the current management and board to get history.

Mzee Kiriwali told members and guest that he would keep the money at his home and carry it in his bag to the SACCO.

The first board chairman Vincent Nkaburwa Maguda who is a brother to the former chief justice Katureebe Maguda noted that he was elected board chairman because he was a head teacher at a nearby school.

All the founders, old and current board members were given gifts and medals.

The general manager Gorden Nankunda told guests that Mushanga currently has 11 branches and 87 staff.  

The scientific celebrations were preceded with a 38^th annual general meeting where members were represented by delegates.

Bob Barigye the commissioner for cooperatives in the ministry of trade who was the guest of honor advised Mushanga management and board chaired by Gervase Bafaki to strengthen internal controls in order to fight theft of money by staff.

Barigye added that with the 11 branches Mushanga has, it should have more than one internal auditor.

He advised them to hire external auditors on retainer basis paid quarterly to strengthen the internal controls.

 David Byamukama Bushenyi district commercial officer    to immediately fire staff who steal even as little as 10.000=.