By Chris Mugasha
The Bishop of West Ankole Diocese Rt. Rev Johnson Twinomujuni has cautioned people who go to SACCOs to acquire loans to desist from diverting the borrowed money to unplanned activities.
According to the Bishop, a loan should be treated as a ‘seed to be planted….’
The Bishop compared spending a loan on unplanned things to eating a ‘seed’ that one has been given to plant and wait for its multiplication.
Twinomujuni said, “omuntu yakuha embibo y’ebihimba (beans) reru okabiteka okabirya noba wayeyita.”
“At the time you go to a SACCO to borrow a loan, know that you are looking for a seed which you should plant first, leave it to germinate and wait for harvesting period,” Twinomujuni advised.
The Bishop was on Friday addressing members of Jubilee SACCO during their 18th annual general meeting that was held at Tuzza Hotel in Bushenyi Municipality. Jubilee SACCO was founded by West Ankole Diocese. In attendance were the former Bishops Rt. Rev William Magambo and Rt. Rev Yona Katuneene.
Earlier, the Jubilee SACCO Board of Directors chairman Jonas Tumwine said among the challenges that the SACCO is struggling with include defaulters and the general fluctuating business environment.
Twinomujuni who is Jubilee SACCO’s patron said it is unfortunate many people acquire loans only to end up spending it on unplanned activities while others spend on luxurious lifestyles.
“If you go to a SACCO to acquire a loan, don’t divert such money to other things especially those which are not productive,” he advised.
Twinomujuni also called upon Christians to make sure that in everything they do they save something which will enable them to invest and later realize development.
“Those in marriage, start early to save together and save for the future. I and my wife Joy, we saved our money way back when I was in America as a student and now it’s the money we are using to develop our family,” Twinomujuni explained.
He rallied Christians to join Jubilee SACCO and buy shares for it to build its capital base.
Twinomujuni applauded Jubilee SACCO for the role it has played in transforming the clergy, the members and the general public.
He said when he was consecrated as Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, among the things he priotized was/is Jubilee SACCO stressing that, “it was the most important and the most important.”
The Bishop however expressed his concern saying, “our Diocese is a giant with some giant people but I don’t know why they have not seen this Jubilee SACCO and support its further growth by investing there?”
He implored the Board and management to develop strategies to boost the growth. “Business is numbers and let us aim at sensitizing our people,” Twinomujuni advised.
According to the Bishop, its high time such institutions to think beyond traditional marketing.
“Yes that one (traditional marketing) can be used but we have no choice we’ve to go digital marketing. We’ve got to reach people and inform them what we have and what we offer.”
Officiating at the meeting, Hebert Mugumya the Revival Radio Board chairman advised the Board to carryout massive mobilization and sensitization. Mugumya an entrepreneur said, “There is no money that is impactful like money for SACCOs.”
He called upon the church leadership to help people/Christians on empowering them with ways of moving out of poverty. “Make all the idle church land productive. Set up demonstration gardens at churches because that is where people go every Sunday,” he appealed adding that, “with the structures that church has, there is nothing should be failing.”
Mugumya commended Jubilee SACCO for the strides so far made. He bought shares worth Sh5million.
Tumwine said they have already finalized strategies of more member mobilization to boost savings and share capital plus sourcing for low cost lines of credit/grants.
Quick facts about Jubilee SACCO
It has a membership of about 13600.
It runs six branches which include; Bushenyi Main branch, Kabwohe Town and Kitagata in Sheema district, Kansheshero in Mitooma district, Ndekye in Rubirizi district and Bihanga in Buhweju district.
Total assets: Shs14, 084,221,491.
Loan portfolio: Shs10, 907,765,260.
Savings: Shs8,043,106,911.
Share capital: Shs3,027,344,486.
Jubilee sacco is unstoppable! It will continue to grow. What we want to see is increased saving and shareholding. Management needs to cut costs as well. For example, instead of spending 2M per member who dies, the sacco should buy life insurance premiums for members at 36k per year with Liberty Insurance. Then Insurance will pay the 2M upon death but also cover 2M treatment costs for the same premium amount!