Presidential skilling hub SACCO leaders warned against misappropriating funds

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State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye, has cautioned the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Savings and Credit Co-operative Organisations (SACCOS) leaders against misappropriating funds.

“If you use these funds properly, President Yoweri Museveni has promised to add more into your SACCOS,” she says

Barekye made the remarks over the weekend while leading a training session on the proper management of funds for the SACCO leaders at the Karamoja Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Napak district.

The training brought together leaders and beneficiaries from Karamoja, Sebei and Teso regions.

The countrywide sensitisation and training programme follows Museveni’s recent financial empowerment of the beneficiaries of the skilling hubs. The President injected shillings 8.8 billion into the SACCOS under the Skilling hubs around the country with an aim of supporting the beneficiaries with start-up capital for their enterprises. Each SACCO received 50 million.

Barekye called on the leaders to be transparent and disciplined as they manage the SACCO funds.

“You have come here to witness what the President promised. This is a permanent project if handled well,” Barekye said.

“Open your eyes, money is money, don’t misuse the power, you can decide to use people who didn’t study here, but that is very criminal, and we shall arrest you if you give the money to non-trainees.”

She further cautioned the leaders against acts of discrimination or misuse of authority, warning them not to deny funds to beneficiaries based on personal differences or favouritism.

“Don’t turn this money into a ransom, or you only give it to those you like,” she warned.

“This is a big project under your district. Prepare to manage these funds well so that Mzee’s project doesn’t fail.”

Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, the director of presidential projects and industrial hubs, noted: “All applicants should have a location where you stay, where you are from or where you will always be. Save yourself from the embarrassment and stress and do the right thing.”

Good leadership principles

The facilitators of the training session were trade ministry official Lutalo Joseph and PostBank's Abdallah Aziz Apat.

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) Assistant Registrar of Cooperatives Joseph Lutalo gives a lecture to District Industrial Hub Chairpersons, RDC, Commercial officer, PWDs representatives and Youth SACCO chairperson leaders representatives from Regional President Industrial hubs of Sebei, Teso and Karamoja during the training of the Management of the SACCO funds from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at Karamoja Zonal Industrial hub Napak district October 18, 2025. (PPU)

The Private Secretary In Charge of Political Affairs and the Youth at State House, Godfrey Longa, giving a lecture to District Industrial Hub Chairpersons, RDC, Commercial officer, PWDs representatives and Youth SACCO chairperson leaders representatives from Regional President Industrial hubs of Sebei, Teso and Karamoja during the training of the Management of the SACCO funds from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at Karamoja Zonal Industrial hub Napak district October 18, 2025. (PPU)

Lutalo encouraged the trainees to focus on good leadership principles.

“It has been proven that bad leadership and governance affect the government's sustainability of cooperative societies, and leaders should treasure and follow the cooperative values and principles,” he said.

Aziz advised the trainees to embrace a savings culture for sustainability and wealth creation.

The Director of Industrial Hubs and Presidential Projects at State House Eng. Raymond Kamugisha giving a lecture to District Industrial Hub Chairpersons, RDC, Commercial officer, PWDs representatives and Youth SACCO chairperson leaders representatives from Regional President Industrial hubs of Sebei, Teso and Karamoja during the training of the Management of the SACCO funds from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at Karamoja Zonal Industrial hub Napak district October 18, 2025. (PPU)

Beneficiaries laud Museveni

Isangu Rose, a beneficiary of the Karamoja Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, thanked President Museveni for the skilling opportunity. She said she now owns her own bakery in Serere town with four employees, and she is able to save shillings 450,000 per month.

Isangu Rose a former Bakery and confectionery student 1st intake 2023 at Teso Zonal Industrial hub now owns a bakery in, Isangu was giving a testimony during a workshop. (PPU)

"I am very grateful to President Museveni; my parents were not able to pay my school fees, and I had dropped out in S.5, but through a friend, I got to know about the skilling hubs where I applied and was recruited. With the skills I got after the 6-month course, and with the support the President gave of shillings 10 million as startup capital when he came to commission this hub, I was able to start up my business.”

Another beneficiary, Awe Jacob from Teso Presidential Industrial Skilling hub, said he also owns a bakery shop in Soroti City, all thanks to President Museveni.

Awei Jacob a former Bakery student 2nd intake 2023 at Teso Zonal Industrial hub now owns a workshop in Soroti city, Awei was giving a testimony during a workshop. (PPU)

He employs two workers, and he is able to save shillings 500,000 per month from the business.

“Life was very hard before I joined the skilling hub, but I’m now able to earn money and take care of my family. I want to urge women not to wait for kameza money but instead join hubs and get skills,” he urged.

“I also thank the President for the sh50 million support to each SACCO. We are going to utilise these funds well and add to our businesses,” Jacob remarked.

Opio Gerrison Nakoya, a former wielding and metal fabrication student, intake 2023 at Karamoja Zonal Industrial hub, now owns a workshop in Abim district. (PPU)

Another very successful story was heard from Opio Gerrison Nakuya, a former trainee in welding and metal fabrication from Teso Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, who now owns a workshop in Abim district and has 3 employees.

“I want to thank President Museveni for giving us a chance to get skills. I had never thought of being someone important, but now I can get contracts. Like in my first contract, I was able to get shillings 2.5 million, and I'm the chairperson of Teso SACCO. We received 50 million from President Museveni. We are very happy, and this is going to help us work together for development,” he added.

The training is part of a nationwide effort to equip leaders with financial management skills and ensure the sustainability of government empowerment programs.