AFOD-Uganda in partnership with WFP is implementing a Cash Based transfer in Lobule settlements, Koboko District, West Nile Region where each refugee receives a cash assistance of 31,000 Uganda shillings per month. In cycle 12 of December 2018, AFOD served a total of 845 households, 4952 individuals (2971 females and 1981 males) were served with 153,512,000 Uganda shillings representing 98.53% of the planned population. To complement the cash distribution, AFOD equips the refugees with financial Literacy skills with a focus on; budgeting, wise money management and savings skills.
Lobule settlement has 8 clusters including Adologo cluster where persons of concern from this cluster have taken the financial literacy education given to them by AFOD Uganda seriously. These members formed this savings group to borrow some money from the pool to improve their livelihoods and they pay it back with some small interest.
The chairperson of MORIBONGO savings group a Congolese, who came to Uganda on the 14th/09/2013 said, their saving group started on 11th /03/2017 with a total of 30 people (10 men and 20 women). Every member saves between 1,000/= to 5,000/=per person, “The money that we save is got from the casual labour we offer to the host community (80% of the money), 10% from the agricultural work where we hire land from the host community and the remaining 10% from the cash they we are entitled to per cycle. The group is only for the refugee community. John the treasure of the savings group who came to Uganda on 14th/09/2013 says, “We have managed to save 3,300,000/=, loaned out 2,000,000/= with 10% interest 800,000/= which adds up to a total of 6,100,000/= of Moribongo savings”. The main goal of our savings group is to buy iron sheets for every member in the group to act as a remedy for termites, which keeps on eating the grass thatched huts.
When asked about the benefits of the savings, the treasure said “Before joining the savings group, we had no access to loans but with AFOD’s financial literacy education, we now have the knowledge and can now access loans to address some issues such as fees, medication and other basic needs which was a big challenge to us”.
He further boasted that “We are now a united and coordinated community through savings!” hence “Our Black Gold through Savings and Financial Literacy!”
The treasurer encouraged other members who have not joined the group to join in order to enjoy sure benefits and learn from the financial literacy given by AFOD.
In conclusion, the chairperson on behalf of the saving group thanked AFOD, WFP and other partners for taking the initiative of supporting them as refugees and the host community for allowing them to stay together.