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NUSAF provides effective income support to and builds the resilience of poor and vulnerable households in Northern Uganda
Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | 45 business groups in Lira city have received funding under the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) III Village Revolving Funds -VRF.
The money is being given under the livelihood investment support, a component of NUSAF III program.
Lira as a district received over 544 million shillings targeting 32 markets in the city. The markets are clustered into 15 VRF’s each comprising different smaller groups. The groups have received a total of 195 million shillings which constitutes 50% of their total benefits.
The district was meant to give 280 million shillings under the first batch but since 12 groups were not well prepared, 71 million shillings will be given to them at a later time.
The benefitting groups are dealing in different businesses like produce buying and selling, matooke, clothes, fish and vegetables and are expected to use the money for four months before refunding it with an overall interest of 5% back to their Village Revolving Fund account.
However, 7 groups who had applied for the funds are still undergoing training after failing to meet the standard requirement for benefiting.
George Ayo Ogwal, the NUSAF desk officer for Lira District Local Government explained that the groups received varied amounts of money depending on the number of smaller groups under them.
“Their work will be getting the money, doing the business and returning it or paying back, that is all because their money is there for their grand, grand children.”
Ayo Ogwal is excited that the women groups are performing well even in the other components of NUSAF. The project dictates that at least 50% of beneficiaries should be women.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Egole, the Lira Resident City Commissioner encouraged other women to create businesses and join groups in order to benefit from government programmes, saying women always perform better than men.
Jennifer Adonyo from Note-En-Mar group from Amuca parish is among the beneficiaries and says the money will help boost their businesses and in the long run facilitate development of their families.
Martin Denis Aporo, the general secretary Arikino Village Saving Association says the interest rate attached to this funding is very good compared to other financiers whose loans are paid back with 10% interest or more monthly.
They called on the other beneficiaries to make the best use of the money in order to be able to progress.
NUSAF is an affirmative action agency on Northern Uganda by the government to provide effective income support to and build the resilience of poor and vulnerable households in Northern Uganda.
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