WAKISO
The Special Presidential Assistant in charge of the Informal Sector, Ian Gumisiriza Jeremiah, has praised the power of unity among community members, saying that a culture of saving, investing, and borrowing through organized groups has significantly improved household incomes and lifted many individuals and communities out of poverty.
Speaking at a community engagement in Kyengera Town Council where he officiated the launch of national office for the People Grow Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (PEGROW), Gumisiriza emphasized that collective financial empowerment has enabled people to expand their businesses, create sustainable livelihoods, and improve their standards of living.
“We have witnessed many groups from different areas, Greater Masaka, Greater Luweero, Mukono, Kayunga, my role as SPA in charge of Informal Sector is to verify that these groups indeed exist, they are genuine, they are registered and the members are undertaking the activities that they say they do,”
“And I must say that I am really satisfied with the position and the performance of these associations and I will recommend them further so that His Excellency the President can give them support in the form of a revolving fund.” Gumisiriza stated
He, however, issued a strong warning to the district core team, particularly Community Development Officers (CDOs) and Community Finance Officers (CFOs), to stop soliciting registration fees from community-based organizations and savings groups. He noted that the practice has hindered the progress of many groups.
“I also want to send a warning to the community development officers and the commercial officers at every level. The authority you are exercising is an authority extended to you by the President,”
“Because all executive authority is invested in the President of the country. So, because of devolution, if he was able to say let us set up these offices and we be able to bring services closer to people. Now if you are a CDO and you are demanding for money before you recommend or before register these associations, community-based organizations, SACCOs, I want to send this warning to you that before the ministers of the local government come to you, I will come to you personally.” he warned.
Gumisiriza added that “I will work with all anti-corruption agencies to make sure that you do not exploit the common people. The President has been preaching the gospel of unity, and development through such association. It cannot be you; the same people charged with the responsibility of registering these organizations frustrating them,”
He further commended those who have diligently carried out their responsibilities and urged them to continue delivering quality services to the intended beneficiaries.
“So, if you become an enemy of development in this Kisanja no more sleep, then do not regret what will happen to you. But those who are doing well, I commend you, I really appreciate you for providing support to these associations. Those of you who have been doing this kind of frustration and sabotage, please stop it forthwith and let us support the people. Let us deliver services to them.”Gumisiriza noted
Gumisiriza also rallied Ugandans to turn up in large numbers on September 19 to celebrate President Yoweri Museveni’s 82nd birthday. He noted that the event, to be held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, will feature a range of activities, including the launch of the Informal Workers Social Protection Scheme (ISPS) that is the equivalent of NSSF for the informal workers who are not supported by the law that established NSSF.
“You all know NSSF has really concentrated on formal workers. And also, of course, the voluntary saving is not really giving the benefit that the informal sector needs,”
“In other countries, these schemes of informal workers are supported by the government in the form of giving matching contributions that if an informal worker saves his 10,000 shillings, for instance, the government matches with the same exact amount as its contribution. So, we are in discussion with His Excellency the President to make sure that even the government of Uganda adopts the same policy so that the government can contribute matching contributions to these informal sector workers.” he added
He expressed optimism that the development would enable the country to mobilize sufficient capital to finance major infrastructure projects, such as road construction, which are expected to accelerate national development.
“Those of you who have been hearing the President’s message, he has been really trying to request and to encourage NSSF to invest in long-term projects like roads, developmental projects like, of course, roads and toll roads. So, we are hopeful that through this informal worker social protection scheme, we will be able to mobilize enough capital to undertake these projects for the benefit of the informal workers,”
“Now, I want you all to imagine a day when this scheme has constructed a toll road like an express road from Masaka to Mbarara. Or, if we may be by that time in Kampala -Jinja, an expressway has not gotten funded. And that road really belongs to the common man and everything collected from the toll is coming back to the pockets of the common Ugandan There, we will be able to prevent capital from going outside, but we will also be able to develop ourselves as a country. Like the President says, homegrown solutions for home problems.”Gumisiriza stated
The event was also attended by Kyengera Town Council Mayor Joseph Semugera Bitokote, District Police Commander (DPC) SP Bright Vincent,among other dignitaries.
