Kyegegwa religious leaders ask for participation in  Emyooga 

Religious leaders in Kyegegwa district have asked government to be included among the list of 18 categories of beneficiaries of the Emyooga program.

On Wednesday, the State Minister for Microfinance, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo wound up  monitoring of Emyooga program in Rwenzori region.

Religious leaders, however, are not among the 18 categories of beneficiaries.

Speaking during one of the meetings, the  Kyaka Central MP, Tom Bright Amooti said he had been asked by the religious leaders to voice their concern in regards benefiting from the program.

"Hon Minister, when this programme of Emyooga was initiated, there is a group that we think you forgot; the religious leaders. They do a lot of work especially for NRM government. If they tell people to do this, people do it. Every time they pray, they pray for the president but we forgot them. We didn't give them the opportunity to form their own omwooga SACCO. The District Commercial Officer knows these people," Amooti said.

He noted that whereas the religious leaders had not been included as part of the 18 categories for Emyooga, they have since formed their own sacco and are in the process of registering it.

Represented by Rev Father Jacent Wimana Atwooki of Kakabara Catholic Parish, Rev Father David Byamukama of Wekomire catholic Parish, and Ven Rev Canon Patrick Wilberforce Atwooki  the group voiced their concern directly to Minister Kasolo.

Rev Father Byamukama said the times of knowing religious leaders being only behind the pulpits and not participating in development are long gone.

"We thank you, Hon Amooti for chipping in, and involving us in this noble activity but also helping to identify us  not only  at the pulpit in our respective churches and mosques, but also  to get involved in development," he said.

“We are among the stakeholders that play a major role in the development process. Your consideration to us and the team we represent shall be appreciated.”

In response, Minister Kasolo approved the religious leaders' request, and asked them to form a sacco, and get financial support from the government.

“Form your own sacco  and we give you financial support. When we build religious leaders, we build a nation. When we support programmes for religious leaders, we are doing a great work because it is them who teach morals and development but they cannot teach development when they are under developed. Therefore, whenever I find a programme for religious leaders, I will prioritize it, and give it support," he said.

High commodity prices

The Kyaka central market vendors Emyooga sacco beneficiaries asked the minister for more seed capital to borrow and inject in their businesses to cushion them from the high commodity prices.

"Customers  are shunning our commodities due to high prices. We sell perishable goods and the longer our commodities stay on stalls, the more they go bad. We are asking government to look for ways to have this fixed. We ask for  more seed capital," Elizabeth Tusiime,  the chairperson  for Kyaka Central Market Vendors SACCO  said.