Success Stories from Mbale City Northern Division Produce Dealers Emyoga SACCO

Mbale City Northern Division Produce Dealers Emyoga SACCO has made remarkable progress in improving the livelihoods of its members, becoming a shining example of the presidential initiative on wealth and job creation, "Emyoga."

Located at Bukonde Road, Bufumbo Cell, Namakwekwe Ward, the SACCO has 422 individual members who have collectively saved Shs40 million.

The organization has disbursed Shs105 million in loans, recovered Shs58 million, and has 54 outstanding loans.

These achievements are supported by membership and subscription fees.

SACCO Secretary Sylvia Nafuna reported that the organization received an initial seed capital of Shs30 million, followed by an additional Shs20 million from Microfinance Support Centre.

These funds have been loaned to the 16 active associations under the SACCO. Members have engaged in various enterprises, including value addition, baking confectioneries, and farming, yielding positive results.

For example, the Nabuyonga Young Single Mothers Association received Shs4.5 million.

"We managed to get an oven, which we use in baking cakes that we supply to different shops," said Justine Kabuni Bisikwa, a member of the association.

Fred Kidandi, the SACCO Chairperson, highlighted another success: "Our members got money and bought coffee seedlings which they planted. Instead of selling coffee to other businessmen, we decided to utilize it ourselves by making coffee powder."

Other enterprises include processing blends of millet flour with cocoyam, yellow sweet potatoes.

Members credit their success to the skills gained through training sessions and exchange visits, particularly one in Kabale sponsored by the Microfinance Support Center.

"We learned how people save, recover loans, and manage enterprises," Nafuna said.

The SACCO leaders have ambitious plans for the future, including purchasing a solar dryer for post-harvest handling.

"We are planning to buy a solar dryer to dry our products on time," they explained.

Beneficiaries have praised President Museveni for the Emyoga programme, which has significantly transformed their lives.

Launched in 2019, Emyoga aims to elevate 39 percent of homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production through internal savings mobilization and seed capital provision. The initiative targets 18 specialized enterprises.

The success stories from Mbale City Northern Division Produce Dealers Emyoga SACCO demonstrate the potential of community-based financial initiatives to drive economic growth and improve livelihoods.