Emyooga is helping change people’s mindset about saving , says Rwampara RDC

The Rwampara Resident District Commissioner Emmy Kateera Turyabagyenyi has said  Emyooga program  has helped inculcate the culture of saving among the public which was not the case before.

Kateera who was speaking at Nyihanga town council in Rwampara County during the Emyooga monitoring function said telling people to save hasn't been easy.

" The issue of saving culture has been bad but slowly but surely they are learning that saving is important. Emyooga has played a great role in ensuring people learn that saving is good,”Kateera said.

Emyooga runs on the initiative of saving under a sacco and later borrow from the sacco at a lower interest rate and affordable terms for members.

Since Rwampara is only two years old, having been curved out of Mbarara in 2019, Kateera said Emyooga beneficiaries have punched above their weight.

" Rwampara is a hard to reach area but when you look at how we have performed we are not the worst and we are going to improve, " Kateera said.

At the same function, the State Minister for Microfinance Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo gave the youth sacco of Rwampara an additional shs5 million to boost their activities.

" I had been invited earlier and I didn't come to the function but here I'm," he said triggering laughter.  " shs5 million is for you people. You can improve your savings."

Kasolo who was monitoring Emyooga in Rwampara also gave five Saccos that have performed well Shs 2 million each and these included women entrepreneurs, market vendors, produce dealers, saloon operators and local leaders.

" You have been looking for rent. You can now go and start from there," Kasolo said.

Though official figures indicate that Rwampara hasn't saved well under Emyooga program, Kasolo said he won't pass judgement yet.

" You are my people. Your leaders are my friends and we need to improve but I'm giving you more time," Kasolo said.

Molly Asiimwe, the Rwampara district woman MP said although they have a lot of market which ranges from Congo, Tanzania,  to South Sudan,  they have bad feeder roads.

Rwampara East MP Julius Tusiime Karuhanga asked minister to provide the district Commercial Officer with a motorcycle to enable him monitor the program, citing  the terrain of the area which makes transport problematic.

When he took the stand Kasolo agreed to the demand.

" I am giving the commercial officer the motorcycle. I am giving the commercial officer a target of mobilizing you to save money. If he gets the target, he takes it for good," Kasolo said.

" I am getting him Shs 5 million. He gets the motorcycle such that he has no excuses."

With that, Kasolo also gave out Shs 2 million to Rwampara East Produce Sacco which has emerged the best among other saccos in the constituency in terms of savings.

" You have only saved Shs 17 million and it's not the best but since your leaders are my friends let me add  you Shs 2 million such that you boost your savings," Kasolo  said.