The Wakiso district Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Justine Mbabazi, has encouraged the public to form SACCOs as well as warned Parish Development Model (PDM) program implementers on unclear procedures in the government’s initiativ
She made the comments during the Abaita Ababiri market vendors and traders cooperative’s annual general meeting in Katabi town council.
RDC Mbabazi noted that PDM funds are intended to be borrowed and repaired to assist individuals who were not able to participate in the first round and to help the 39% of Ugandans who do not have access to the money economy and therefore pledged to hold public gatherings in all Wakiso district parishes to keep an eye on the initiative to lessen the instances in which implementers defraud beneficiaries.
“I’m going to continue organizing barazas in every parish to monitor the PDM program, so those who are doing the opposite of what they are supposed to do are going to face it rough,” she said.
In addition, she encouraged the public to form cooperatives and SACCOs in order to benefit in government initiatives, saying, “I’m very well pleased with Abaita Ababiri market vendors and am going to make sure that they immediately benefit in PDM in their respective parishes.”
Mbabazi also comfirmed that no one is allowed to collect evening dues from low income earners because it is against the president’s directive.
“It was a president’s directive that no body should collect evening dues from low income earners. I have got many complaints from the entire district that some few individuals have been collecting and even giving them receipts, so we are against it and I have directed police to investigate whoever collects evening dues from the people,” she said.
Ronald Kalema, the Katabi town council chairperson encouraged all members to actively participate as well as emphasizing shared responsibilities and mutual benefit among themselves while also adhering to cooperative principles like democracy and equality.
“As Katabi town council, we have also acquired an additional space, which will be paid for in phases to improve the market status. Already shs 100m has been paid, and the market’s plan has also been done for future developments,” Kalema said.
In a conversation with Nicholas Katerega, the chairperson of Abaita Ababiri Market Vendors and Traders Cooperative Society Limited, he highlighted that the cooperative was registered in 2011 engaging in the mobilization of members’ share capital, savings mobilization and provision of credit with over 120 members.
“Proper books of account have been kept and financial statements which are in agreement therewith, give a true and fair view of the state of financial affairs of society as of 31/12/2024 and the results of operations for the year then ended comply with the Cooperative Society Act, CAP 107,” he added.
Through the Wakiso district RDC, Katerega, therefore, appealed for government support to the cooperative as well as individual benefits to members in terms of PDM funds among other government programs to enhance the vendors’ livelihoods.
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