Youth groups in Masindi District have called on the Resident District Commissioner and the area Member of Parliament to enforce recovery of Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga funds, saying delayed repayments are denying other beneficiaries access to government credit.
Members of the Masindi Youth Millennium Group, village savings groups and boda boda operators said the revolving nature of the funds is being undermined by defaulting beneficiaries, weakening the programmes’ intended impact.
They argue that strict enforcement of repayment would restore circulation of the funds and enable more young people to benefit.
District records show Masindi District received Shs1.6 billion under the programme, targeting enterprises in 19 priority categories, while Masindi Municipality was allocated Shs600 million for SACCO start-ups. An additional 14 of 18 municipal SACCOs later received Shs20 million each for good performance.
Masindi District Commercial Officer Moses Kalyegira said one of the major challenges is widespread misunderstanding of the programme.
‘Some SACCO leaders wrongly assumed this was a donation or political reward. This money is a loan facility with an annual interest rate of eight percent,’ he said.
He said weak financial literacy and poor sensitisation continue to affect repayment performance.
Youth representatives said many of them remain locked out of the programmes due to defaults by earlier beneficiaries.
‘We are asking leaders to ensure those who borrowed government money repay on time. If it is not returned, others like us cannot access it,’ said Irumba Haruna Ismail, secretary of the Masindi Youth Millennium Group.
Ms Janet Namuli said the situation was discouraging and unfair to willing borrowers.
‘We are not against PDM or Emyooga. We only want fairness. If someone borrows, they should pay back so that another youth can also borrow,’ she said on Sunday.
Masindi Resident District Commissioner Darius Nandinda acknowledged the concerns, saying government has already intensified recovery efforts.
‘The intention is clear. These funds are meant to revolve so that many people benefit. When people fail to repay, the system is affected,’ he said.
He added that enforcement teams are working with parish chiefs and district officials to track defaulters.
‘We are following up on those who have not repaid. The money must come back so others can also benefit,’ he said.
Masindi Municipality MP Rogers Byamukama said enforcement must be accompanied by training and support for beneficiaries.
‘Some beneficiaries struggle due to lack of business skills and poor financial planning,’ he said.
He called for stronger supervision, training and monitoring of SACCOs to improve sustainability.
‘We need better monitoring systems. If funds are well managed, they can transform lives,’ he said.
Despite assurances from leaders, youth groups insist immediate action is needed to restore confidence in the programmes and protect the revolving fund system.