Michael Kyakashari, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Hoima, has issued an arrest order for 12 women reportedly defaulting on loan repayments from an entrepreneurship programme.

These women, hailing from Kitoba Sub-county, have allegedly stated their inability to repay the funds they received from President Museveni, which were given as a token of gratitude for their support in the previous elections.

The women, members of the Kiburwa Tukolehamu, Kitoba Rice Producers, and Kibaire Farmers groups, collectively borrowed Shs50m from the Uganda Women Entrepreneur Programme (UWEP).

According to The Nile Post, the Kiburwa Tukolehamu Group, which received Shs9 million, has only managed to repay Shs2 million since 2018. Similarly, the Kitoba Rice Producers, who were given Shs6 million, have also only repaid Shs2 million since 2018.

Joyce Kabatalya, the senior development officer of Hoima, was taken aback to discover that the majority of the defaulters were unwilling to repay what they considered a token from President Museveni for voting for the NRM.

“We have been lenient since 2018, now today they are saying they can’t pay back the money that was given to them by President Museveni as token,” Kabatalya said.

She questioned when the money became a token, emphasizing that it was meant to be repaid to allow others to borrow and improve their living conditions.

Kyakashari warned beneficiaries of government development programmes like UWEP, Emyooga, and the Parish Development Model not to take these initiatives lightly.

He asserted, “The money was clearly meant to be repaid, and that still holds. Despite the delay, we are now taking action. If you fail to repay, we will arrest you and you will have to repay while at police .”

The 12 women are currently held at Hoima Police Station, with the RDC stating that they will only be released after making a payment or signing a commitment to repay within a specified timeframe.