OVER 400,000 KIGEZI RESIDENTS ENTANGLED IN SACCO SCAM

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukungiri—-

At least 480,000 locals in the seven districts of Kigezi Sub-region are crying foul after they were mobilised to form Sacco schemes to benefit from the Shs4 billion economic empowerment project but have waited in vain, four years.

The locals in the districts of Rukungiri, Ntungamo, Kanungu, Kisoro, Rubanda, Kabale, and Rukiga were mobilized into groups by a non-government organisation (NGO), Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundeire, headed by Ms Peace Rugambwa, and were later registered into a Sacco under the same name in 2017 in order to benefit from government’s poverty alleviation programmes of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and the Micro Finance Support Centre.

Government through OWC, had committed to support farmers in onion growing and to offer agro-farm inputs to improve their household incomes.

With representatives from all the Sacco members in the seven districts, the Sacco leadership and that of the NGO have since cut off ties with the locals who want their money refunded and the matter investigated.

Ms Hadija Begumisa, 72, a resident of Rwabigangura Village in Kebisoni Town Council, who also runs a stall at Kebisoni Daily Market, said: “I registered about 283 members from my village. Some members registered more than once hoping to receive more shares and more items, but this has not been realized,”

From the day she delivered the last batch of registered members to Sacco’s top leadership in May 2017, she has never heard of them.

Mr Michael Kwarikunda Mbareeba, a former Rukiga District councillor, called on the government to investigate the scam and have culprits prosecuted.

“We trusted Ms Rugambwa since she had campaigned for President Museveni in the 2016 polls. Everyone is wondering what happened. The people who registered in Ntungamo are more than 100,000,” Mr Mohamed Rwomushana, the Kayonza Sub-county chair, said.

Key campaigners of the organisation included a retired Anglican Church Bishop Joram Kayeye, the Kisoro District chairperson, Mr James Bizimana, several RDCs and Operation Wealth Creation district commanders.

When contacted for a comment, Ms Rugambwa cited sabotage in the activities by State House personnel, who despite directives for funding from the President, never heeded.

“The money residents were paying was only for membership. President Museveni ordered for funding of our activities, but key State House people blocked it. I don’t know the intention, but even with the strong commitment of the President, they have refused to give us money,” Ms Rugambwa said.

She notes that it is hard for her to even travel to the village where she was born because people think she stole their money.

During the Rukungiri Woman MP by-elections, President Museveni promised to support the organisation and offered financial support of Shs60m.

As a requirement for registration, each of the locals was asked to pay Shs12,000 to register with the NGO and Shs20,000 to register with the Sacco in order to benefit from the Shs4b funding from the Micro Finance Support Centre.

Some paid more money after they were asked to buy more shares to become majority shareholders

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