By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The State Minister for Micro Finance Haruna Kasolo has given Emyooga money defaulters and beneficiaries who diverted the money in Kacumbala Subcounty in Bukedea District 30 days ultimatum to return the loans or be arrested and face jail.
According Minister Kasolo, a big number of Emyooga and Parish Development Model beneficiaries used the money to settle their personal financial needs like paying school fees for their children which were not the intended purposes for the government funds.
This was revealed by the minister during several meetings with the locals in Bukedea District.
Minister Kasolo who is in the area to monitor how the programmes are being rolled was however disappointed to discover that most beneficiaries diverted the money to their personal benefits.
This prompted the Minister to direct all the beneficiaries who diverted the funds to pay it back to their respective SACCOs within 30 days.
According to Moses Otim, the district commercial officer, out of 550 million shillings that was disbursed to 17 SACCOs, only 27 million has been recovered further noting that Emyooga funds came in during Covid-19 period which negatively affected their businesses in terms of performances and production.
Speaking during the meeting, Esther Amede, one of the beneficiaries of Emyooga funds revealed that the locals were misguided by their political leaders who told them that President Museveni gave them the money and they didn’t have to pay back which made them reluctant and thus misusing the money.
