The office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Zombo led by Deputy RDC Atim Grace, Assistant Commercial Officer Lilly Susan Canuwok and Ronald Waswa from Micro Finance Support Centre (MFSC) Arua have arrested three people for registering a ghost “Emyooga SACCO” in Zombo district.
This ghost leadership all along have parted with UGX 50m meant for Welders under Emyooga in the Okoro constituency.
The three are Yahya Bakhit the Chairman of Okoro constituency “Emyooga Welders Sacco,” and a former CEO of Paidha Black Angles Sports Club, his secretary Jacob Cothembo and Jimmy Ongei.
They have been handcuffed and thrown behind bars at Paidha Police Station on allegation of withdrawing over shs.20m from Centenary Bank under dupe disguise.
During the time of the arrest, the trio admitted to having spent part of the presidential initiative funds on wealth creation for purchasing sets of jerseys among others for Paidha Black Angle SC.
“Once I inform the club management that the district has the money to pay back, they will raise the money.” Yahya alluded
“Even my secretary and treasurer are property owners and they cannot run away, but allow us to raise the money.” He added
But Deputy RDC Grace Atim responded that these people have to go and make their commitment to the police knowing fully well that they are not welders and un-eligible to receive the Emyooga funds.
The officer of the MFSC West Nile, Waswa, said he is disappointed with the behavior of Yahya who was also elected executive of Emyooga Welders Sacco at the national level.
“How do you manage these groups of people when you are not a welder” Waswa asked Yahya
“And why didn’t you tell the members that you are not a welder.” He added the question
Atim said these people have been withdrawing the money without authorization or approval from the office of RDC.
The group first received shs.30m and an additional shs.20m from the government and the executives kept withdrawing and sharing among themselves the deputy RDC revealed as she was making a phone call to the police.
“I have informed the bank manager not to allow withdrawal without authorization and we want all the money on account and we mobilize the known welders to benefit from the funds in Okoro constituency.” She explained
Meanwhile, Atim ordered for overhaul of the group as they recovered the money and formed a new group for Okoro Constituency Emyooga welders Sacco.
This move will ensure they recover 50m seed capital disbursed to the account for the welders.
Amongst the three apprehended men, only Ongei accepted to pay shs. 1 million at the time but he was told he will have to make it in writing at the police station.
Yahya pleaded and requested a three-month period to allow him to pay over shs. 10 million.
How emyooga funds can be accessed.
This scandal comes at a time when the government has relaxed conditions that require Emyooga Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies to seek recommendations from district commercial officers before they access money in their bank accounts.
Initially, it was extra hard to get access to the government cash and members’ savings in their bank accounts. The condition was that the Executive Committee had to seek a recommendation letter from the district commercial officer who determines how much they can withdraw.
Nonetheless, following a serious string of complaints from the Emyooga SACCO leaders, the government recently withdrew the requirement.
The district commercial officers can write to bank managers to inform them about the Executive committee’s intention of withdrawing the money as they wish without necessarily presenting a recommendation letter from their offices.
What Paidha Black Angels SC are Saying.
Yahaya Bhakit is no longer attach to the club.
The Club chairperson Robert Jakony on behalf of the club has rubished the Former CEO’s statement that part of the funds were used in the club undertakings.
Relatedly, Two members of Okoro constituency mechanic Saaco under Emyooga In Zombo were arrested by the state house anti-corruption unit.
The Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (Emyooga) was launched in August 2019 as part of the broad government strategy targeting to transform 68% of homesteads from subsistence to market-oriented production with the overall objective of promoting job creation and improving household incomes.
