The Bishop-elect of Busoga Diocese, Rev Canon Prof Grace Lubaale, has appealed to the government to extend the Emyooga initiative to clergy, noting that spiritual leaders also face financial pressures that affect their ability to serve communities effectively.
Lubaale made the call on Friday while officiating at an Emyooga beneficiaries’ exhibition at Christ’s Cathedral Bugembe in Jinja.
The event brought together Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) from across the Busoga sub-region to showcase products and innovations nurtured under the programme over the past five years.
The exhibition featured enterprises ranging from carpentry, welding, tailoring, salon operations, agriculture, and women-led businesses, highlighting how the initiative has transformed livelihoods and boosted household incomes.
Rev. Canon Prof. Lubaale lauded the programme as a transformative effort, urging the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) to formally include clergy and requested Shs200 million to establish a Clergy SACCO under the Busoga Diocese.
“Religious leaders also have financial challenges; therefore, we need government support. I encourage government to support our Clergy SACCO here at the Diocese with at least Shs200 million,” Lubaale said.
Jinja Resident City Commissioner Richard Gulume also encouraged religious leaders to leverage their influence in promoting poverty eradication initiatives.
“Religious leaders, while at the pulpit, are not asked questions. I urge you to slot in economic development ideas like Emyooga in your sermons. This will help in the fight against poverty in Busoga,” he said.
Since its launch in 2020, the Emyooga programme has seen government inject more than Shs20 billion into SACCOs in the Busoga sub-region.
MSC Busoga Zonal Manager Martin Isabirye explained that each constituency initially received Shs560 million to support 18 categories, including salon operators, boda boda riders, journalists, carpenters, and women entrepreneurs, amounting to Shs17 billion regionally, with an additional Shs7 billion later allocated to high-performing SACCOs.
The exhibition also highlighted success stories from beneficiaries. Esther Naisikwe, Chairperson of Bugweri Salon SACCO, said the programme enabled them to produce salon products such as shampoo, generating over Shs100,000 daily.
Albert Wandira of Kagoma South Journalists Emyooga SACCO shared that their group diversified into briquette and liquid soap production, finding steady markets among poultry farmers.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Kauda of Bugweri Women Entrepreneurs SACCO revealed that bar soap production now yields approximately Shs1 million monthly, with ongoing skills training for youth and teenagers.
As Emyooga enters its sixth year, leaders and beneficiaries in Busoga continue to praise the initiative for fostering economic empowerment, with hopes that clergy will soon be formally incorporated to strengthen community development efforts.