Caritas Uganda launches Livelihood program for Kabale, Kasese dioceses

By Francis Jjunju

19^th June 2023

The National Director for Caritas Uganda Fr. Hillary Mugenzangango is concerned about the ongoing fights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that have affected the livelihood programmes for local Ugandans living along border areas in Uganda.

It is reported that Ugandans surviving along the Uganda-DRC borderline live in fear over possible attacks of rebels operating in Congo who at times lay ambushes and attack communities which is also a threat to economic activities in the area and have made businesses get closed by 6pm and movements of people stopped at 8pm.

Fr Mugenzangango says that the fights have not only affected the programmes but also are security threats to Ugandans surviving at the Uganda –DRC border districts.

He said this while at the launch of a three year local support program by Caritas Uganda and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation that will run from November 2022 to December 2025 to improve the livelihood, quality of food, income security and nutrition for the intended beneficiaries in Kabale and Kasese Catholic Dioceses through the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA).

But, Fr. Mugenzangango is optimistic that once insecurity is solved, the establishment of VSLA will encourage the local persons to form individual groups to save and support themselves in the way to fight poverty and increase household income.

The priest further noted that during his fact survey visit in Kasese and Kabale dioceses from 12th to 17th June 2023 that was aimed at monitoring the implementation of VSLA Project trainings, found 30 trainees who were skilled in financial savings and investment in May this year working hard to train the 60 Village Savings and Loans Associations in the two Catholic dioceses to support the intended beneficiaries.

According to him, the monitoring team visited and surveyed the mode of delivery mechanism in teaching members about the spirit of saving and investment and to document lessons learnt by the VSLA – SACCOs of which each comprising 10 to 15 village members.