By Our Reporter
The Emyooga programme, a flagship initiative launched by President Yoweri Museveni in 2019 to accelerate job creation and eradicate poverty, is now entangled in a widening corruption scandal. Allegations of fraud, embezzlement, and gross mismanagement have surfaced, casting a dark shadow over one of Uganda’s most heavily funded economic empowerment projects.
Administered through Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs), the programme was intended to boost income-generating activities among low-income Ugandans. However, recent investigations have uncovered troubling irregularities, including ghost beneficiaries, untraceable funds, and widespread failure in implementation across multiple districts.
Minister Kasolo’s Shaky Stand
State Minister for Microfinance, Hon. Haruna Kasolo, is facing growing criticism amid accusations of administrative failure to effectively monitor this program. Sources familiar with the matter allege that under his watch, SACCOs have become vehicles for patronage and corruption, sidelining the very communities they were established to uplift.
Local reports suggest that many of the groups registered as SACCOs either do not exist or have failed to carry out any meaningful economic activity. Several districts reportedly lack documentation on how funds were allocated, raising alarm among oversight bodies and civil society groups.
General Saleh Breaks Ranks, Calls For Transparency
In a significant development, General Salim Saleh — the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation and one of the programme’s original backers — publicly criticized the handling of Emyooga funds during a televised interview on NBS TV. His remarks have intensified calls for urgent reform and accountability.
“The way these funds are being handled lacks transparency and accountability,” General Saleh stated. “If the intended beneficiaries are not seeing the money, then we must ask tough questions about where it is going.”
Public Outcry & Demands for Audit
Civil society leaders, Members of Parliament, and grassroots activists have always demanded audit into the Emyooga programme. With billions of shillings invested, stakeholders argue that the lack of visible impact is unacceptable.
“It’s outrageous that this level of funding has yielded so little,” said a Kampala-based governance activist. “Ugandans deserve a full accounting of every shilling spent — and justice where fraud is found.”
Despite mounting public pressure, Minister Kasolo has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.
The unfolding scandal threatens to undermine public confidence in government-led economic empowerment initiatives. While the Emyooga programme was launched with lofty promises, its current trajectory suggests a systemic failure to monitor, evaluate, and deliver on its objectives.
