Officials held over missing Sacco funds

Allegations. The two youth leaders are accused of selling tractor parts and misusing more than Shs20 million.

Two officials from Hoima Youth Sacco are under police custody for allegedly misusing of funds donated by President Museveni.
The Midwestern regional police spokesperson, Ms Lydia Tumushabe, said the Sacco chairman and manager were arrested for, among others, allegedly mismanaging the tractor donated to the youth.

Police said the officials reportedly sold the tractor’s spare parts, and the have not accounted for the money.

The tractor, donated to the youth in the run up to the 2011 general elections, was supposed to help them expand their agricultural productivity by opening and expand their gardens.

“The ploughs were recovered in Amuru District where they were sold in October at about Shs3 million,” Ms Tumushabe said.

The tractor currently grounded at Hoima Police Station, has since been condemned by the inspector of vehicles for being in a dangerous mechanical condition.

More accusations
Ms Tumushabe said the suspects are also accused of failing to account for Shs20 million which they received from the Uganda Micro Finance Support Centre.

Preliminary investigations by police revealed that the Sacco was approved for the loan to be used by the youth as a revolving fund.

It is was agreed that it would help them access credit for their respective investments under the Prosperity for All programme.
Efforts to get comment from the suspects were futile as they were under police custody.

Mid July, this newspaper broke the story indicating that some Hoima Youth Sacco officials had disappeared with donations meant for the youth.

fmugerwa@ug.nationmedia.com