President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has encouraged the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairpersons from Kampala City to form SACCOs to help them receive financial assistance, and fight poverty.
While speaking to chairpersons at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Wednesday, 29th March 2023, Museveni said that paying salary to all LC leaders is not possible due to financial restraints but encouraged them to participate in money making projects.
“What the government is going to do is to encourage you to form SACCOs so that financial assistance can be given to you and you invest in production or agriculture,” he said.
He added that the SACCO idea will not cripple government operations because it is easy to manage and that the government’s priority is to get the entire population out of poverty.
“That is why all this time we have been trying out all these programs like NAADS, microfinance, operation wealth Creation, Youth lively program, Emyooga, and the recently introduced PDM,” he added.
Museveni revealed that PDM money in Kampala will be increased since their parishes have bigger populations as compared to parishes in rural areas.
“We are going to study the idea of investing more money in the city since there are many people. But the principle is one, borrow and invest then return it for other people to use it,” the president stated.
Museveni also advised leaders to consider venturing into pre-urban agriculture since there is a ready market to buy their products, especially poultry and vegetables.
The Minsiter for Kampala, Hajjati Minsa Kabanda, appreciated governments programs of Emyooga and the PDM as well as the markets that have been provided to hawkers.
Among other leaders at the meeting were, NRM Vice Chairman for Kampala region, Hon Singh Katongole, Richard Todwong the Secretary General of NRM and his Vice Hon. Rose Namayanja, the Director for Mobilization at the NRM Secretariat Hon. Rosemary Sseninde as well as Senior’s Officials from the NRM Secretariat.
The NRM government has pledged to pull all Ugandans out of poverty through programs such as PDM, Emyooga among others.