By Zalimon Basighalha (Good Luck)
HOIMA: Over 100 members of Hoima Diocese Catholic Women Apostolate in Hoima Oil City have received training in forming and managing SACCOs formed under the Presidential Initiative on Job and Wealth Creation, Emyooga.
The training was conducted by officials from the Microfinance Support Center-MSC during the annual general meeting of the Hoima Diocese Catholic Women Apostolate at St. Nicolas Bujumbira Catholic Cathedral in Hoima oil City.
The training and the annual general meeting attracted three members from each of the 49 Catholic Parishes.
Gidson Ainamani, the Microfinance Support Center Head of Business Development Services, took the participants through a number of sessions including SACCO formation, operation and management and the action plans they need to consider before members can access their money.
Robert Bakole Lumumba, the Hoima Zone Regional Manager-MSC, also took the trainees through financial literacy and selection process.
Shortly after the training, members resolved and agreed to form their savings and Credit Cooperative Organization-SACCO and said that they would caudally collaborate with Microfinance Support Center since the finance institution has affordable interest rates.
In her remarks, Mrs. Mary Kyaterekera, the coordinator for Hoima Diocese Catholic Women Apostolate, told the officials from the Microfinance Support Center that they have already set apart 1.5 acres of land on which they would construct a model skills development center once they have secured the funds in form a loan from the government owned finance institution.
Kyaterekera commended Microfinance support center for offering the training saying that they have not only received financial and SACCO management skills but also in mindset change.
The coordinator has since pledged to pass the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to the rest of the mothers under their umbrella association and the Catholic Parishes across the Diocese.
“We want to empower and support a Catholic woman to engage in all development programs geared towards community transformation,” She said. She added that this would be one of the measures to curtail the escalating cases of domestic violence in many families where women and children are seen as the direct victims.
The training was graced by the Director for Lay Apostolate Commission and Family of Hoima Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr. Agapitus Hecta Businge Amooti and the training team was headed by the Deputy Executive Director, Hellen Masika Petronilla.
About MSC
The Microfinance Support Center Ltd (MSC) is a Government of Uganda owned institution incorporated in 2001 with a mandate to offer affordable credit and business development services to its target clients.
Vision
To be the development microfinance institution transforming livelihoods of the economically active poor for attaining sustainable development.
Mission
To provide affordable development microfinance services through effective management and delivery of Government of Uganda and partner development funds, increased access and strengthening the capacities of institutions of the economically active poor.
Mandate
Microfinance Support is mandated to extend affordable micro-credit funds to qualifying Ugandans with a focus on agriculture and the active poor, and to offer business development services to build capacity in enterprise and financial management.
