By Rwothomio Mike

Zombo

The microfinance support center Arua zonal office is struggling to hit its audit target of emyooga Savings And Corporative Society groups in Zombo district as majority of  SACCO executives are  declining  to appear for the audit.

According to the micro finance support center Arua which is by law mandated to coordinate and implement emyooga activities in the region, a total of 1.1 billion Uganda shillings was disbursed to 36 emyooga SACCO groups in Zombo district since the program launch in 2019 to date. However last week, Zombo district started an audit into 2022 performance of emyooga SACCO groups which instead hit a snag from the onset as many groups were a no show.

Ronald Waswa, the  manager micro finance support center Arua zonal office , while for a meeting with Zombo district leaders and some emyooga executives at the district headquarters mentioned that ,only 4 groups out of the 36 presented  for the audit. “Four SACCOs have been audited yet we have really conducted monitoring. Some times when we reach their offices, you find they are away after even giving assurance that the office would be open. We are also having the challenge of mismanagement of SACCO funds, so we need to own up the affairs of the SACCOs “Waswa said.

The  RDC of Zombo retired Lieutenant Col Pius Alitema and his deputy Grace Atim who were  posted newly in Zombo last year  are  up to a daunting task of recovering the funds that the whole process  started during the reign of his predecessor who has since been dropped by the president. Alitema said “Even if you have eaten it, you come and explain how you have eaten it, then we shall assess".

According to information from the office coordinating emyooga activities in West Nile region, the loan recovery for emyooga SACCO groups in Zombo district stands below negative. The deputy RDC of Zombo Grace Atim has immediately ordered for the closure of emyooga funds withdrawal pending all SACCO audit. "What am saying is that, for the meantime, I will not be writing withdrawal letter of any money from the bank until after the audit for all SACCO groups are done" Atim said. Asked why many were a no show for the audit, most executives cited the challenge of communication gap whilst other emyooga executives revealed that they are encountering resistance from some members who are failing to return their loans on time.

With president Yoweri Museveni expected for a West Nile tour in which sources say will include assessing the performance of some government programs like emyooga, parish development model amongst others, the representatives of President's office in many West Nile districts are struggling to have at least what to present to the fountain of honor in case he demands.

The LCV chairperson of Zombo district James Oruna Oyullu says many people always blame leaders for embezzlement of funds without clear reasons and now it's incumbent upon each emyooga beneficiaries to account for the revolving fund.

Last month, the state minister of micro finance Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo while speaking to some emyooga beneficiaries in Bulisa district warned that, it will not be business as usual for the emyooga defaulters. He also threatened to name and Shame all defaulters on local radios nationwide. Launched by government of Uganda in 2019, Emyooga program, the job and wealth creation initiative targets to transform 68% of households locked in subsistence to market oriented production with the sole purpose of promoting job creation and improving household incomes.

COVER PHOTO: Some emyooga beneficiaries during the meeting in Zombo recently By Rwothomio Mike