JINJA, UGANDA: Dan Byakika, a captain from the UPDF Jinja cantonment and the chairperson of the Northern Division Veterans Emyooga Sacco, is in trouble for the alleged misappropriation of Emyooga funds. He was picked by officers from Kiira police region for allegedly withdrawing Shillings 24 Million from the Sacco accounts without the member’s consent.
He reportedly used the money to purchase a commuter taxi in a dangerous mechanical condition, which is draining the daily earnings through repairs. Byakika’s arrest stemmed from the routine supervision of Jinja Deputy Resident City Commissioner, Lydia Karemela.
The Sacco members called for the RCC’s intervention, saying that they have failed to pay back the money they obtained from the fund. Karemela directed police to arrest Byakika, who’s currently locked up at Jinja central police station. Abdul Mukoobe, a member of the Northern division veteran’s Emyooga Sacco, says that Byakika withdrew Shillings 8 million to set up a non-existent piggery project.
When contacted, Karemela said that some Emyooga Sacco leaders forged signatures of the account signatories, which has since frustrated the money recovery process. According to the RCC, they have embarked on efforts of documenting all the challenges of noncompliant Emyooga Saccos so as to devise means of recovering the funds and ensure that other targeted beneficiaries access the credit facilities with ease.
Kiira Region Police spokesperson James Mubi says that Byakika has been slapped with charges of obtaining money through false pretense as inquiries are ongoing.
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