Government has starting the next financial year, waived UNBS certification fees for Emyooga saccos involved in adding value to their products before selling to the market.
The announcement was made by the State Minister for Microfinance and Small Enterprises, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, during a bazaar and exhibition at the Jinja Agricultural Show Grounds, where Emyooga Saccos from Busoga sub-region showcased their products.
Organized by Microfinance Support Center(MSC), the bazaar attracted over 5,000 Emyooga beneficiaries from Jinja, Kamuli, Buyende, Kaliro, Bugiri, Bugweri, Luuka, Namutumba, Mayuge, Namayingo, Iganga, and Jinja City, with approximately 100 Saccos showcasing their products.
In his address, Kasolo stated that President Museveni has directed the government to ensure that all Emyooga SACCOs involved in value addition have their products certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) in the next financial year.
He emphasized that the government will fully fund this certification process.
"During a meeting with the President, he urged us to ensure that, in next year’s budget, all Emyooga SACCOs engaged in value addition receive government funding for UNBS certification. This will enable your products to access larger markets and be sold in supermarkets.." He said.
Kasolo commended Busoga sub-region for effectively utilizing Emyooga funds and praised the quality of their showcased products.
He also revealed plans to create markets for these products to enhance their reach and profitability.
"We need to establish a dedicated space for Emyooga beneficiaries to sell their products. I have seen many high quality craft items here. Recently, I suggested to woman MPs that they advocate for the creation of a sales outlet at the airport, specifically for Emyooga products, particularly crafts, to attract the foreign market. Our focus is on creating a market for your products because, while people have produced excellent goods, local demand remains low."
The minister emphasized that Emyooga beneficiaries should focus on being wealth creators rather than salary earners.
"A person who earns money every day is richer than someone who earns a monthly salary," he said.
The minister urged beneficiaries to cultivate a culture of saving, emphasizing that accumulating wealth requires setting aside something every day.
"There is development in Busoga, but there is no wealth because people do not save. Engage in wealth creation activities,” he added.
Joseph Tukamushaba, the Head of the Emyooga Program at MSC, expressed his gratitude to the minister for his commitment to the success of the Emyooga program while addressing the beneficiaries.
Tukamushaba informed the minister that MSC had formed 576 Saccos in the Busoga sub-region, along with 13,495 associations comprising over 34,000 individual members.
He added that each of these Saccos had received seed capital of shs30 million, and some have already been granted additional capital of shs 20 million.
In his report, Mr. Tukamushaba stated that MSC trained all the Sacco leaders in areas such as governance, financial literacy, and mindset change.
He also noted that the skills acquired during exchange visits have been passed on to their Sacco members.
"Cash or money alone isn't enough, skills and knowledge to use the money is equal important. All the Saccos in Busoga Region have gone through training especially in areas of governance and financial literacy and aspects of mindset change. We have promoted other methods of learning including peer to peer learning, and we have 48 Saccos that participated in peer to peer with their colleagues in Ankole. The ones who participated in exchange visits have taught fellows what they learnt from other areas."
Additionally, he informed the minister that they have established one model Sacco in every constituency within the Busoga Sub-Region aimed at sharing knowledge with all Emyooga beneficiaries.
"We have taken the initiative to transform them into exemplary institutions from which others can learn," he said
Simon Wakaze, the LC5 Chairman of Luuka, suggested that taxes on raw materials used by Emyooga beneficiaries should be removed to help them grow their capital and increase production.
He pointed out that the multiple taxes are negatively affecting the production process.
Wakaze praised President Museveni, the Microfinance Support Center, and Minister Kyeyune Kasolo for leading the fight against poverty in his region and across Uganda.
Milly Gabula, the Chairperson of Iganga Municipal Council Women Entrepreneurs SACCO, welcomed government's pledge to waive UNBS certification, stating that it is a clear indication of the government's commitment to helping them build wealth.
"This is a great idea, and we thank the president. We have not been able to take our products to supermarkets and other larger markets, but with the UNBS certification, we will be able to attract more markets and generate real income." She added.
She hailed MSC for the skills they provided, stating that even with the additional capital, all SACCO members know how to utilize it, having ventured into various businesses