THE STORY OF BUMASIKYE - Compiled by PP Esther Mwambu
The Rotary Club of Kampala South has a special relationship with Bumasikye through the Bumasikye RCC. Bumasikye is a sub-county located in Mbale district and in this story, our own PP Esther Mwambu expounds more on the activities of Bumasikye RCC as we continue to learn about another one of our buddy group names.
The Charter of Bumasikye RCC
The Bumasikye RCC was chartered in March 2016 by the serving RC Kampala South President, Patrick Lassu.
The charter ceremony took place at the home of the founding chairperson, Mrs. Topher Mwambu in Makhonje Village, Bumasikye Sub-county in Mbale District. It was attended by among others, 23 charter members and members of the Rotary Club of Kampala South. The RCC was jointly sponsored by the RC of Kampala South (primary sponsor) and the RC of Mbale (secondary sponsor); and the sponsorship was aimed at ensuring ongoing community improvement. The major objective of the RCC is to improve the household income and livelihoods of members and the surrounding community.
Bumasikye RCC embarks on a Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO)
In August 2016, the RCC started a SACCO – the Bumasikye RCC SACCO - with start-up capital of UGX 190,000 (One hundred and ninety thousand, only) raised from amongst themselves, and an additional UGX 500,000 (Five hundred thousand shillings), from a member of the RC of Kampala South, PP Esther Mwambu. The start-up capital was later topped up by UGX 500,000 (Five hundred thousand shillings) from PP Geoffrey Kitakule, while serving as President of the club in October 2017. The total running capital of the SACCO as at 23rd May 2019 was at UGX 3,031,000 (Three million thirty one thousand Uganda shillings).
The major objective of the SACCO was to realize improved household incomes and livelihoods of its members. Membership of the SACCO was the same membership of the RCC. To date, the SACCO has 28 members (also members of the RCC), and savings/loans meetings are held monthly; while general meetings for the RCC and SACCO are held quarterly.
The SACCO has been the flagship project and main activity of the RCC since its charter in 2016, and has been of benefit to members of the SACCO as outlined below:
Improved household livelihoods: Through acquisition of small loans for setting-up small retail business enterprises; home improvement; payment of medical bills; improved household nutrition; and payment of school fees for members’ children.
Social security for members: Members are able to support each other when need arises in social activities such as weddings or other family celebrations and even during times of bereavement.
Improvement of the surrounding community members’ livelihoods: By spearheading and coordinating community outreaches, and sensitizing community members such as during the health camp organized by the RC of Kampala South on 19th October 2018.
The SACCO however is faced with some challenges such as; Limited financial literacy of most members, poverty that limits the amount members can borrow and/or save, the sudden closure of the SACCO bank account following the closure of Crane Bank Ltd, loans defaulting by some members and delayed payment of loans borrowed by others. This affects the generation of income for the SACCO through interest charged on loans, and depletes the running capital. The SACCO has future Plans of Setting-up a joint poultry rearing project for improved income-generation.
STATUS OF THE BUMASIKYE RCC AS AT 20TH JULY 2020
The membership stands at 28, and has both male and female members. The average age of the members is 50 years, which brings challenges to managing and initiating new activities in the RCC. Membership growth has stagnated owing to majorly poverty coupled with high financial illiteracy levels among community members, which limits their ability to pay annual membership fees. The RCC hosts members of the RC of Kampala South annually for a joint activity/meeting and to keep the club updated on its activities. However, no meeting was held in 2019, and the onset of COVD-19 affected the next meeting that had been scheduled for March 2020.
PLANNED ACTIVITIES OF BUMASIKYE RCC
Proposed Joint Service Projects with RC of Kampala South including; Tree planting and woodlot management activities for provision of sustainable timber for building/construction and for household/domestic use, repair of rain-harvesting water tanks and provision of clean water and good sanitation, in two primary schools and one secondary school in the community through partnership with WASH, organize regular health and sanitation empowerment/sensitization activities for the surrounding communities in partnership with WASH.