UGANDA: Catholic Dioceses of Uganda Commence Second Year of Inclusive Microfinance Project
A section of Trainees for Financial Management
Masereka Peter
The National Director for Caritas Uganda, Rev. Fr. Hillary Muheezaryango has said technical guidance and marketing of produce should solely be the role of the leaders and not farmers who produce for the country.
Addressing the media on 21st November 2023 at Kanungu Resort Hotel in Kanungu district, Kabale Diocese shortly after a one-day training workshop to close the first year of livelihood and inclusive microfinance project for improved food nutrition and income security in Kabale and Kasese dioceses, Fr. Hillary called for shared roles that would see leaders closely collaborate with farmers for improved household incomes.
Caritas-Uganda can quickly respond to emergencies and disasters in the country should the local people welcome with two hands the local fundraising drive designed as Caritas Uganda Emergency relief and child care plus program that will soon be introduced.
The National Director said in making quick response to emergencies in the country the national office has come up with a fundraising drive that will empower Caritas to quickly extend her hand to the affected citizen.
Fr Hillary who called for mindset change warned the public against relaying on foreign aid yet citizens have capacity to locally contribute money that will quickly respond to the emergencies called for collaborated effort towards for the program come to the reality
He encouraged local government to state the budget conference at the lower local council for the resident to identify the challenges affecting the area, adding asked them to empower LC1 with skills to organize developmental conferences at a village level.
Ms. Christine Okello, the National Project coordinator who said they targeted 1800 households and 42 catholic sisters’ congregations for more than three years, indicated that strengthening livelihood strategies and self-reliance as a result of enhanced finance services and improved income generating activities was their target.
Represented by Rev. Fr. Joseph Syathetha the finance administrator, the Ordinary of the Diocese of Kasese Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira called for plans to sustain the project especially after the end of the donation.
Mr. Erifazi Muhindi, the Kasese district chairman described the Caritas approach as a game changer into his operations, saying the Parish Development Model Strategy could have a positive impact easily should the beneficiaries be trained before receiving the funds.
The Kasese District chairperson LC5, Mr. Erifazi Muhindi warned the public against saving only to share it at the end of the year but rather to start running SACCO for the future wellbeing.
Eng. Sam Kajojo Arinaitwe, Mr. Muhindi’s counterpart in Kanungu described the Caritas Uganda intervention as another unique effort in the right direction for improved livelihoods against poverty and unemployment among the young people.
The director of Caritas Kasese, Rev. Fr. Anyasio Mbusa called for proper use of the funds as they look forward to supporting more woman and youth groups.
The project is funded by CONRAD N. Hilton foundation through Caritas Uganda. END
