Microfinance Support Center gifts 13 small scale business men and women in Kasese with different equipments to restart their businesses which collapsed due to Covid-19 lockdown

By Zalimon Basighalha (Goodluck)

Microfinance Support Center through the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job creation (Emyooga program) on Sunday gifted a total of 13 small scale business men and women within Kasese Municipality different equipments worth over shillings ten million to enable them restart their businesses which collapsed due to Covid-19 lockdown.

This was after the Deputy Executive Director for Microfinance Support Center, a government owned institution that manages all government micro credit programs, Hellen Masika Petronilla, held a Radio talk show on UBC-Ngeya FM, a government radio station in Kasese district where the beneficiaries (listeners) narrated their problems and challenges they are passing through that hinder that their business to prosper through phone calls.

Immediately after the talk show, a group of listeners stormed the Radio station premises in Kasese town and started testifying the hard times they were passing through especially during the Covid-19 lockdown.

After listening to their cry, Masika instantly directed her team from Microfinance Support Centre and the listeners to go to shopping centers and started purchasing their needs respectively.

Among the gifts bought included one Hisense Refrigerator, tool boxes, mobile phones, Shaving machines (Wahl super tapers), paying school fees and giving cash money to the beneficiaries.  

The beneficiaries included Batrimao Masereka from Kanyangeya, Sibuthokwa Marahi from Mumbuzi, Jockus Kabatoro from Nyakasnga west, David Mumbere from Saluti B, Geoffrey Baluku from Kitoro and Constance Mbambu.

Others were Willy Kule, Maryline Kabugho, Joel Muhindo and Jackson Keija among others.

Speaking to press in joyful moods, the beneficiaries thanked the government of Uganda for her continuous support towards citizen through her institutions especially Emyooga program saying that it has helped local citizens to come out of poverty.

Earlier while handing over the gifts to the beneficiaries, Hellen Masika Petronilla the Deputy Executive Director for Microfinance Support Center said that it was the role of the government of Uganda to transform the livelihoods of the citizen across the country.

Masika, who was on a one-week official visit in Western Uganda for Emyooga Program Sustainable Training of Trainers’ for Mbarara and Fort portal Zonal branches respectively, quickly asked beneficiaries to continue supporting the current ruling government of Uganda and her programs.

During her visit, Masika also popularized the benefits of Emyooga program that was initiated by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni purposely to support the local citizens to come out poverty in Rwenzori region including delivering shillings 300 million to ten Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu Emyooga SACCOs for leaders and veterans respectively as well as training other OBR veterans and leaders from Bundibugyo, Bunyangabo, Ntoroko and Kabarole districts.