The Iteso Cultural Union has applauded the government’s Emyooga program for transforming livelihoods across Teso Sub-region, with cultural leaders, district officials and beneficiaries calling for stronger cooperation with the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) to scale up economic empowerment.
This recognition came during a high-level visit by MSC to the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) at their headquarters in Soroti, Emyooga beneficiaries from Serere, Katakwi, Bukedea and Soroti showcased a wide range of products from wines, crafts, carpentry and furniture to bitengi and homemade products.
In a message delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Central, John Okiror, the Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot, commended MSC for its sustained support to the Iteso people.
“Papa Emorimor is indeed very grateful because of the help that Microfinance Support Centre has been able to provide the Iteso Cultural Union,” Okiror said.
“From that time to date, we’ve been in direct contact with Microfinance Support Centre. That is why it came into our thinking that we must form groups and get in touch with MSC as a region to get support.”
He noted that the Iteso Cultural Union has mobilised leaders across districts to form structured Saccos that meet MSC requirements.
“These Saccos were formed by the institutional leadership so we can get support from MSC,” he added. “Central Region has already registered a circle of the Iteso leadership, and other regions are following the same process.”
The Union has also established committees on business, agriculture, education and health to coordinate economic activities among its people.
The Deputy Prime Minister for the Northern Region, Francis Echodu, emphasised that MSC and the Cultural Union have complementary strengths.
“We can confirm that we see the outputs of your inputs through the Emyooga program,” Echodu said.
“Microfinance has the financial muscle, and we as the cultural institution have the human capital. We also have enough land to enable production.”
Echodu appealed for financing to support commercial agriculture and cattle keeping, especially for elderly members who need sustainable income sources.
“We pledge to partner with MSC by bringing massive mobilization of our people into Emyooga and monitoring progress to avoid losses,” he noted.
Serere RDC Steven Ekoom described Emyooga as one of the most impactful poverty-alleviation initiatives in the region.
“MSC has disbursed about Shs 3.6 billion to all the 18 Emyooga categories in the region,” Ekoom said.
“So far, 450 Saccos have been formed and engaged in enterprises that are positively changing lives.”
He highlighted the program’s low interest rate of 8% compared to commercial banks charging 15–25%, saying this has enabled thousands to borrow affordably and grow their village enterprises.
“Money is now circulating within the villages,” he added. “You will find groups with new assets everywhere even new cars.”
Ekoom also underscored the program’s role in household stability.
“Domestic violence used to come from lack of support in families, but now people are engaged economically and can provide for their households,” he said.
He reaffirmed government commitment to working with the Iteso Cultural Union to ensure more groups benefit from Emyooga.
The head of the Emyooga Secretariat at MSC, Joseph Tukamushaba, said the Centre had come in the “spirit of friendship and partnership.”
“Any community that doesn’t have friendship and partnership stands no chance of surviving,” he said.
“Of the many problems we have, poverty is one of the biggest and you cannot fight poverty unless you are engaged in productive economic activity.”
He emphasized MSC’s dual role of providing working capital and training.
“We give capital sometimes as grants for start-ups, sometimes as low-interest loans but we also train beneficiaries so they use the funds productively and sustainably.”
Tukamushaba challenged Teso to scale up production.
“What we have achieved in the last five years shows that we should be able to stop importing things like Blue Band and wines for our functions,” he said.
“All these enterprises can create jobs within our communities.”
He called on the Iteso people to join MSC on a shared mission of building a self-sustaining region.
“No one can address our challenges more than we can help ourselves,” he concluded. “Let us build the country we all want to live in and enjoy.”
The event marked a renewed commitment between MSC and the Iteso Cultural Union to use Emyooga as a tool for community transformation.
With hundreds of successful enterprises already taking shape, leaders say the next phase will focus on scaling up production, strengthening Saccos and ensuring that every sub-region of Teso benefits.