Use initiatives like Emyooga to create wealth, Kasaija urges

The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija has urged residents of Kibaale district to utilize government initiatives such as Emyooga to generate wealth within their households.

Kasaija stressed the significance of developing a savings culture highlighting it as the most direct path to wealth.

"We encourage people to save money, but before they can save, they must make  the money. Saving is like tending to a garden, with patience and consistent care, small contributions can grow into a plentiful reserve. I encourage homes to create homestead income," he said.

He made these remarks while commissioning Microfinance Support Centre satellite office at the Kibaale District Headquarters under the MSC Hoima Zonal Office.

Kasaija stated that the new  office will help reduce the distance that people from his home district have been traveling to access the nearby MSC office in Hoima.

"It means quite a lot because if you needed microfinance service, you would have go up to Hoima, and from here to Hoima, it is about 80 miles, but now a person from Kakumiro will run only 20 miles, and also from here to Kagadi ,the same. So it makes it easy, even on a boda boda or even for the young men, you can even take a bicycle, you would arrive here in less than two hours and then get served, so that's the significance."

The Minister also presented dummy cheques totaling shs 360 million as additional seed capital to two constituencies; Buyanja East and Buyanja.

Buyanja constituency received shs140 million, while Buyanja East received shs220 million for the top-performing Emyooga saccos  in Kibaale District.

Kasaija encouraged people to participate in government initiatives aimed at promoting financial inclusion.

He commended Microfinance Support Centre for their unwavering commitment to economic empowerment and sustainable development.

"This Emyooga initiative that the government has put in place, is precisely meant to help the ordinary people down there create wealth through agriculture production."

Dr. Emmanuel Aliba Kiiza, Board Chairperson at MSC, emphasized that the opening of the Kabaale satellite office aligns with their strategy to provide financial services locally, ensuring accessibility for all people.

"The reason is that  we would like to bring financial services closer to the people so that those who are a little bit disadvantaged and they can't move to the bank because of one reason or the other, we should be able to reach them from where they're. We find them in their natural environments. We can't manage to remain in Kampala and expect for the people to find us. We have to reach the people but above all, we have to reach the most disadvantaged and that's where our work is."

The Kibaale  LC 5 chairperson, Eng. Godfrey Muhonge Kasanga, commended the Microfinance Support Centre for getting closer to the local community, noting that this approach will enhance service delivery and facilitate the training of Emyooga SACCOs groups.

"We are very grateful to the microfinance Support Center because previously we have been heading to Hoima but now we have a branch here which will be benefiting the three districts that is Kibaale, Kagadi and Kakumiro. Microfinance Support Center office being here, of course we expect services like training our groups(Saccos) and even facilitation in terms of loans and getting credit from the MSC."

Muhonge emphasized that the proximity of MSC offices will enable Emyooga members to receive enhanced technical knowledge from their staff.

Muhonge is optimistic that now that MSC is closer to the community, it will foster increased education and promote a culture of savings among the people of Kibaale.

Earlier, Minister Kasaija inaugurated a building at Buyanja Secondary School in Kibaale district, where he emphasized the importance for parents to prioritize their children's education for a brighter future.