President Museveni has pledged to establish a dedicated revolving fund for residents neighbouring the Mbale State Lodge, reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring every homestead in Busamaga Parish benefits from wealth-creation programmes under a structured SACCO system.
While meeting the association of neighbours in Busamaga Parish, Mbale City, President Museveni thanked them for organising themselves and inviting him for a direct dialogue. He emphasized that the government's priority is to support every homestead with enterprise financing, beginning with the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he described as a pilot phase set for expansion.
"The first issue is to get figures--how many homesteads are here," he said.
He explained that the government normally reaches households in stages, as is currently being done through PDM.
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"That's why we send Shs 100 million each year," he added.
According to the President, with 1,000 homesteads in the parish, the current annual allocation of Shs 100 million translates into Shs 500 million over five years, enabling about 800 homesteads to benefit depending on the amount accessed per family.
"Those who took it will have brought it back, and by the end of the five years we shall have reached about 800 homesteads," he said, confirming that the government plans to increase the capital so the revolving fund can eventually cover every household.
President Museveni underscored the importance of collective organisation through genuine SACCOs and cautioned against misuse of SACCO funds, noting examples from Kampala where leaders monopolised the funds.
"You must all be members of a SACCO. If you got one million shillings, after two years you pay back Shs 1.2 million. It is free money really, but it should rotate," he said.
He outlined three key areas of government support including improvement of local road, individual credit through the revolving fund, group projects and shared assets
He stressed that assets such as taxis, tents, public address systems, and other income-generating items must be collectively owned by the association. The President promised to send the State House Comptroller to verify legitimate SACCO members and oversee the delivery of seed capital.
Speaking on behalf of the Mbale State Lodge Neighbours Association, spokesperson Mr. Stephen Musoba said their mission is to build a self-reliant youth community.
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He thanked the President for his continued efforts to transform peasant households into a modern society and applauded programmes like Emyooga, PDM, and NAADS for uplifting household incomes.
Mr. Musoba said the youth are seeking financial support to strengthen both individual and group enterprises. He appealed for improved road infrastructure and assistance in acquiring assets such as taxis, boda bodas, dairy cattle, ovens, and a permanent home for their association.
He noted that as neighbours to the State Lodge, "we are the closest when anything happens."
