By Eye Media Uganda | Kyenjojo | August 19, 2026
President Yoweri Museveni plans to increase funding to SACCOs for graduates of the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, but State House has warned beneficiaries against diverting the loans to alcohol, bride price and other non-productive expenses.
State House Comptroller Jane Barekye revealed the planned additional funding on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, during a stakeholders’ engagement at the Tooro Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Kyenjojo District.
She said the Shs50 million already injected into each district graduates’ SACCO was a pilot intervention intended to help trained youth establish income-generating enterprises.
“The President is going to add more money to these SACCOs. What we need from you is financial discipline,” Barekye said.
She warned beneficiaries to invest borrowed money in the projects for which it was intended and only spend profits on personal needs.
“After your businesses grow and start making profits, you can then use the proceeds for things like bride price, but not these loans. Please don’t play with the President’s money,” she said.
The Tooro hub serves Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Fort Portal City, Bunyangabu and Kabarole.
Barekye said State House was working with local leaders to assess the performance of the skilling programme and determine whether the revolving funds were achieving their intended purpose.
She urged district leaders to closely monitor the SACCOs and ensure money reaches the intended graduates and is invested productively.
State House has also deployed Ronald Aroho as finance manager to strengthen supervision and accountability. Barekye directed him to work closely with district commercial officers rather than establish a parallel monitoring structure.
She further challenged local governments to support graduates by awarding them contracts and tenders for products they are trained to make, including school desks and beds.
During the engagement, SACCO leaders raised concerns that some graduates were struggling to access loans because they lacked National Identification Cards and could not meet some registration requirements.
Kabarole District Hub SACCO chairperson Mulungi Kenneth said 36 graduates had accessed the revolving fund, while Kamwenge District Hub SACCO chairperson Akampulira Everest reported that 13 beneficiaries had received loans and invested them in their intended projects.
Beneficiaries also shared testimonies of businesses established using the loans.
Kabasiita Janet, a tailoring graduate from Kitagwenda, said a Shs560,000 loan enabled her to begin earning from her skills, although she appealed for larger loans to meet the costs of sewing machines, rent and materials.
Abenitwe Jordan, a carpentry graduate from Kitagwenda, said he received Shs1.35 million and established a workshop where he makes beds. He has since diversified into poultry and piggery.
Atuyambe Hannah of Kyenjojo said she used a Shs560,000 loan to establish a tailoring business after graduating from the hub. She later expanded into selling household items and now earns between Shs250,000 and Shs300,000 per month.
Bunyangabu RDC Nicholas Kamukama praised the programme’s mindset-change component, while Kyenjojo RDC Ayesiga Julian Sarah called for irrigation at the hub’s four-acre model farm to sustain production during dry seasons.
Kabarole Deputy RDC Benuza Jane Atenyi said the programme was helping strengthen household incomes by equipping women and men with employable skills.
President Museveni introduced the revolving fund after graduates raised concerns that, despite acquiring vocational skills, many lacked capital to establish businesses.
Under the arrangement, government injected Shs50 million into each district graduates’ SACCO. Beneficiaries borrow from the fund and are expected to repay the money so that other graduates can also access capital.
Barekye said any increase in funding would depend on financial discipline, productive investment and timely repayment of the existing loans.
