RDCs are in charge of Emyooga programs in districts, says Minister Kasolo

The Minister of State for Microfinance Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo has insisted that it's not possible for any Sacoo in Emyooga program to get money without the Residents District Commissioner (RDC) sanctioning the same.

" The RDC leads the Emyooga committee. It's him or her who approves before the Microfinance Support Center pays the money. The powers of the RDC are wide since he or she is the chairperson of government programs and chairperson of Emyooga program,”Kasolo said on Tuesday.

The minister also said for the first time in Uganda's history, a government program was cleared by MPs who didn't find any serious discrepancies.

" MPs spent 10 days in constituencies finding out if the money came and they indeed confirmed that it came," he said adding that transparency is key in Emyooga.

Kasolo was speaking during the monitoring of Emyooga program in Sheema district in Western Uganda.

During one of the meetings, beneficiaries especially in Sheema South complained over the district commercial officer Allan Mubanda who was accused of soliciting bribes from sacco members before sanctioning their requests for loans.

In response, Kasolo ordered him to refund the money with immediate effect.

“We are solving this problem today. If he( Mubanda) took your money then you go and get it from him right now,”Kasolo directe.

The commercial officer in response accepted to pay back the money.

The Sheema RDC, Frank Kyerere said they have encountered two embezzlement cases in saccos in the district, noting they moved quickly to arrest the culprits.

" They were board members of the Sacco and we put them in prison. They refunded the money" Kyerere said.

Kyerere also said the people with disabilities Sacco complained that the district commercial officer had asked them for money before sanctioning their loan request.

" That money was also refunded because we are strict," he said, adding that Emyooga is moving well in Sheema North constituency.