One Arrested, 18 Chairpersons on Run Over Mismanagement of Emyoga Funds.

By Devine Atwine,

Isingiro. 

The Police in Isingiro District has arrested and detained Turyahabwe Arafat, the chairperson of Isingiro West Constituency Tax operators SACCO over the misappropriation of nine (9) million.

According to Patrick Musinguzi, the Isingiro District Commercial officer (DCO), the Isingiro West Constituency Tax operators Emyoga SACCO received over thirty (30) million Uganda shillings and as a group, they withdrew only twenty million, ten million remained on the account of the group.

Musinguzi confirmed that after a few days, Turyahabwe Arafat, the chairperson of Isingiro West Constituency Tax operators SACCO forged the signatures of the group members, he went to the bank and withdrew the remaining 9 million without notifying the members.

The Isingiro West Constituency Tax SACCO is located in Ruborogota Sub County, Isingiro west constituency, Isingiro District.

According to Musinguzi, Arafat will soon appear in courts of law for castigation so that other emyoga chairpersons can learn from him.

However, police and other security agencies in partnership with Arinaitwe Lauben Hamz, the Member of Parliament Isingiro West constituency have started to investigate other eighteen (18) Emyoga Chairpersons in Isingiro west over misconduct and misappropriation of Emyaga funds.

According to Lauben, several SACCOs received money but the money was only shared by the chairpersons of the groups and their executive members, other members were left out without benefiting.

A case in point is Isingiro West Constituency Market Vendors SACCO, Isingiro West Constituency PWDs SACCO among others the money received was only shared by the chairpersons of the group and executive members, other members were not considered.

According to Provia Tumwesigye, the Isingiro West Constituency Market Vendors SACCO, as a group they received over Ugx 30m, the chairperson and his executive withdrew Ugx 25 million from the group account and shared the money with the executive members. When other members tried to ask, they kept promising that they will share the remaining Ugx 5Million up to now.

Provia said the remaining Five million was also withdrawn from their account but none of the other group members apart from the chairperson and Executive members who have ever received any single shilling from Emyoga funds.

However, the 18 other chairpersons in Isingiro west were given one week to account for the money received or they also face the law. 

This was also witnessed in other Constituencies in Isingiro District mostly in Isingiro South and Bukanga constituency where the Emyoga funds were received and shared by only the chairpersons and executive members.

According to MP Lauben, Isingiro west Constituency received Ugx 560,000,000 and group members’ own savings under a SACCO is Ugx 29,430,000.

In Isingiro South, received Ugx 560,000,000, group members own savings Ugx 23, 550, 000, Isingiro North Ugx 560,000,000,group members own savings Ugx 61,570,000,Bukanga North received Ugx 560,000,000, group members own savings Ugx 51,670,000,Bukanga Constituency received Ugx 560,000,000 , members own savings Ugx 33,300,000.

According to Musinguzi, Isingiro District received Ugx 2,800,000,000, group members own savings under SACCOs Ugx 199,520,000.

Musinguzi revealed that 10,503 members have already benefited in the Associations across the whole District.

Aaron Turahi, the Isingiro District chairperson, requested the emyoga group leaders and members who received the money to use them to develop themselves.

He said that whoever misuses the Government funds will be arrested and taken to courts of law.