GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND SUPPORT TO SMALL-SCALE BUSINESS OWNERS

The Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Mobilisation, Mr. Moses
Byaruhanga today met with members of the Patriotic Development
Initiatives Ltd in Makerere Industrial Area, Kagugube Parish, where he
engaged traders and commended them for their continued support,
including voting for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

During the meeting, Mr. Byaruhanga informed the traders that the
government remains committed to supporting people through key wealth
creation programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and
Emyooga.

Members of the Patriotic Development Initiatives Ltd get excited after hearing the good news from Senior Presidential Advisor in-charge of Political Mobilization Moses Byaruhanga during a meeting at their offices in Makererre industrial area, Kagugube Parish, Kampala Central division on the 29th April 2026. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.

He however, emphasized that for these traders who did not benefit from
PDM and emyooga, they must first organize themselves into well-
structured groups in order to benefit from the government arrangements.
He noted that he will soon call upon their leaders to establish the
number of traders, understand the nature of their businesses, and
identify the kind of support required.

“What I don’t want is to put money in the SACCO and it doesn’t reach
the targeted people,” he said.

Senior Presidential Advisor in-charge of Political Mobilization Moses Byaruhanga being welcomed by Kassimu Lubowa Musisi the Lc 1Makererre industrial area Kagugube Parish Kampala Central division accompanied by members of the Patriotic Development Initiatives Ltd when the Senior Presidential Advisor visited them at their offices in Makererre industrial area, Kagugube Parish, Kampala Central division on the 29th April 2026. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.

Mr. Byaruhanga reassured the traders that the government is ready to
support them, stressing that availability of funds is not the challenge, but
rather proper organization and accountability.

He cited successful examples from markets such as Kalerwe, Nakawa,
Busega, and Ggaba, which have already benefited from the Katale loan
initiative. Under this arrangement, traders can access loans of up to
UGX 1 million with an annual interest of UGX 80,000.

“With markets, we sat down with microfinance institutions and agreed to
get a government money lender who will give loans at a very low interest
rate,” he explained.

He further called upon leaders to closely monitor the performance of
businesses within their groups so that the government can extend
additional support where necessary.

He also urged members to be strategic and ensure that once they
receive the funds, they should be in position to pay back so that others
can benefit.

The Chairman of the Patriotic Development Initiatives, Mr. Tumusime
James thanked President Museveni for the government’s ongoing
initiatives and called upon traders to work together in unity to fully benefit
from these programs.