Dokolo North Restaurant Emyooga SACCO is changing lives

By Our Reporter

When Akunyu Semmy joined the Dokolo North Restaurant Emyooga SACCO in 2020, she was not thinking of millions. Like many small-scale traders in Dokolo District, her goal was simple: to save a little, support her family, and survive the daily pressures of life.

Five years later, Akunyu, now the treasurer of Adwoki Restaurant Emyooga SACCO, looks back with pride as the group’s savings stand at Shs12 million. For her and 179 other members, the SACCO has become more than a financial institution—it is a lifeline.

“This SACCO has changed our lives,” Akunyu who also has 600 birds says with a smile. “We are now able to pay school fees, invest in farming, and handle household expenses that used to overwhelm us.”

Located at Adwoki Trading Centre in Agwata Sub-county, Dokolo North Restaurant Emyooga SACCO brings together food vendors and caterers united by a shared purpose: saving, supporting one another, and accessing affordable credit. The SACCO currently has 180 registered members, most of whom are women striving to improve their livelihoods.

The group was formed in 2020 under the government’s Emyooga initiative, a program introduced by President Yoweri Museveni to promote job creation and wealth generation at the grassroots.

“We took the message seriously,” says Janet Abongo, the SACCO chairperson. “We registered formally and focused on catering services because that is what most of our members were already doing.”

Initially, the SACCO brought together seven restaurant associations across Dokolo North, including Adwoki, Atabu, Adwoki B, Amonamun, Bardyang, Adok, and Amunda, with a combined membership of 210 people. With seed capital of Shs20 million from the Microfinance Support Centre, members accessed loans to expand their businesses.

However, the journey was not without setbacks. Two associations—Bardyang and Adwoki B—failed to honor their loan repayments, forcing the SACCO leadership to revoke their membership.

“It was a painful but necessary decision,” Abongo recalls. “We had to protect the integrity of the SACCO and move forward with members who were committed to growth.”

The SACCO now operates with five associations and charges an annual interest rate of 8 percent, making loans affordable and accessible. In 2023, following a successful audit, the group received an additional Shs30 million in seed capital, further strengthening its operations.

Though membership temporarily dropped to 150, the SACCO embarked on a recruitment drive and has since grown back to 180 members, with plans to expand even further.

Strict rules guide borrowing. Loans are issued only to registered members and are tied to individual savings.

“If you save Shs100,000, you can borrow up to Shs300,000,” Akunyu explains. “This discipline protects the SACCO and teaches members financial responsibility.”

The impact of this discipline is visible across Dokolo North. Children are staying in school, businesses are expanding, and households are more financially stable.

The success of the SACCO has not gone unnoticed. Dokolo Resident District Commissioner Barbra Akech says Emyooga SACCOs in the district are steadily delivering on their mandate.

“Dokolo North Welders and Dokolo North Catering Services are among the best performers,” Akech notes. “Because of their good records, they have received additional capital of Shs20 million each.”

She says the program is transforming lives across age groups and urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely.

“The aim is to take people out of poverty,” Akech says. “When people manage these funds well, they create lasting change—not just for themselves, but for their communities.”

For Akunyu and her fellow members, the SACCO represents hope built on discipline, trust, and collective effort. From saving small coins to managing millions, their story reflects how community-driven initiatives, when well-managed, can open doors to shared prosperity.

Abongo said that beyond outside catering, the SACCO has diversified its income-generating activities to include poultry keeping and the hiring out of utensils to support its growth.

Among the notable achievements over the years are the procurement of five tents for hire, 600 chairs, and the purchase of a plot of land worth Shs2 million where the SACCO plans to construct its office.

“At the moment, we are stable and capable of feeding up to 2,000 guests at any ceremony,” Abongo said.

She added that the SACCO’s growth is largely attributed to regular executive meetings, where leaders closely monitor loan performance and continuously remind members to honor their repayment obligations.

Loans are carefully issued only to members with viable businesses and the capacity to repay, a strategy that has strengthened financial discipline and sustained the SACCO’s steady growth.

Abongo added that the SACCO has ambitious plans for the future, including expanding its membership to 300, acquiring its own means of transport, and constructing a permanent office. The group also plans to apply for an additional Shs20 million in seed capital to further boost its operations.

She noted that anyone wishing to join the SACCO is required to pay a membership fee of Shs10,000 and an annual contribution of Shs10,000.