We Thought Museveni Was Rewarding Us After We Voted For Him In 2021!! Hoima Women Arrested For Defaulting Museveni’s Loan

Hoima District Deputy Resident Commissioner, Michael Kyakashari, has ordered the arrest of 12 women for alleged non-payment of a business program loan.

The women from Kitoba sub-county reportedly said they could not return the money President Museveni gave them as thanks for voting for him in the last election. The 12 women from Kiburwa Tukolehamu, Kitoba Rice Producers and Kibaire Farmers groups received a total of Sh50 million from the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Program (UWEP).

The Nile Post has gathered that Kiburwa Tukolehamu Group received Sh9 million but has only paid Sh2 million since 2018. When Hoima Senior Development Officer Joyce Kabatalya investigated why the groups were not paying the funds, she was surprised.

Their ingenuity was based on the knowledge that most defaulters were unwilling to return a so-called token from President Museveni in gratitude for voting for NRM.

“We have been lenient since 2018 and now they are saying they cannot return the money President Museveni gave them as tokens,” Kabatalya said.

“Since when did this money become a symbol? It was clear that they had to return the money so that their colleagues could take out loans and improve their livelihoods.”

He warned beneficiaries of government development programs such as UWEP, Emyooga and Parish Development Model not to take things for granted.

“It is clear that the money should be refunded, and it is,” Kyakashari said.

“The delay, yes, but now we are acting. If you don’t pay, we will arrest you and you will pay while you are with the police.”

The 12 women were arrested at the Hoima police station and the RDC said they would not be released until they were released within a certain period of time paid or signed an undertaking to return the money.