By Ambrose Okwanga I May 24th 2026
The member of parliament for Kole North, Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti in partnership with the Microfinance Support Centre has rolled out a financial literacy and loan access campaign aimed at empowering farmer Village Savings and Loan Association groups in Kole District to benefit from affordable government credit facilities.
More than 200 leaders of savings and farmers’ groups from Sub counties and town councils of Aboke, Alito and Okwerodot attended the training session that took place yesterday at Alito primary school
The Lira Regional Manager of the Microfinance Support Centre, Mable Nabadda, said the initiative was prompted by concerns raised by MP Acuti over the limited access to affordable financing among local farmer groups despite the availability of government-supported loan schemes.
Nabadda explained that the loans attract an annual interest rate of only 8 percent and range between Ugx 5 million and Ugx 50 million per group.
She added that beneficiaries are not required to present heavy collateral security, making the facility more accessible to rural farmers and community savings groups.
She encouraged the groups not to fear borrowing, saying the government established the programme specifically to strengthen local enterprises and protect communities from exploitation by private money lenders charging high interest rates.
Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti revealed that although there are more than 1,000 farmer and savings groups across Kole North, many continue to struggle with inadequate capital, which has slowed business expansion and commercial agriculture activities.
Opio Acuti said his office will closely monitor how the funds are utilized to ensure the loans directly improve household incomes and strengthen local businesses.
“some groups collapse because members misuse borrowed funds and fail to repay loans on time” he warned.
Acuti also noted that many people still perceive loans negatively, yet the real problem often lies in poor financial planning and misuse of borrowed money saying that some borrowers divert funds to non-productive activities and later fail to recover financially.
He urged all members of savings groups to actively participate in leadership and accountability structures to avoid mismanagement that could weaken the groups and deny communities future access to affordable credit.
Leaders of several farmer groups welcomed the intervention, saying the training and loan opportunities would help them expand farming activities, improve produce marketing, and increase household incomes.
Grace Aceng, chairperson of Obanga Amio Women Savings Group in Alito Sub-county, said the group was formed in 2004 and has been involved in produce trading despite facing several financial challenges over the years.
She expressed optimism that the new loan programme would help them scale up their operations and improve profits.
Aceng praised MP Acuti for championing programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and supporting rural economic transformation in Kole District.
Cosmas Ayo, treasure of Nge-Ngo-Ikobo Saving Group in Alito sub county, said the low interest rate offered through the government programme was a major relief compared to expensive loans obtained from private lenders and money lending institutions.
The Government of Uganda established the Microfinance Support Centre in 2001 as part of broader efforts to provide affordable credit to organized community groups and promote inclusive economic growth across the country.