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BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
ARUA: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025
The initiative is aimed at helping the masters of ceremonies and media panelists to create business venture to supplement their earnings.
“Our biggest nightmare has been the exorbitant interest rates on loans, especially from money lenders. One time I borrowed sh500,000 and I ended up paying sh900,000, three months after the defaulting to pay,” said Mahad Anguipi, a member from Yumbe district.
Anguipi is a renowned emcee and barber in Yumbe district and sees the capitalization of their association’s coffers by the office of the President as a unique chance to acquire more equipment to upgrade his saloon.
“If people can prosper with sh1m from the Parish Development Model, what can we not do with sh2m per person?” he asked.
Anguipi expressed confidence that he will turn his barbershop into the best saloon in Yumbe town to help him earn more money.
His counterpart from Adjumani district, Julius Adriko, whose area of trade includes Moyo and Obongoi district said that they now have a real chance to establish a business from which they can get regular income.
He is eyeing events management and aims to start organizing some events himself since the chances of being hired to be a master of ceremony are few and far between.
There are 25 registered members of the West Nile MCs and Media Panelists Association, according to Karim Toko, the chairman of the association.
The association is one of the 18 that received a sh100m funding from the State House of Uganda, totaling to sh1.8b.
The money will be given to registered members as loans of between sh1m to sh2m at a six percent interest per annum.
All that is required is for a member to present a sound business plan and a reputable guarantor to back the application.
“This money is what we have been waiting for. It is a once in a blue moon chance and I thank President Yoweri Museveni for it,” expressed Badru Alahai, a resident of Adjumani district.
In addition to being a master of ceremony, Badru owns a car washing business and he has already picked forms to get sh2m loan to expand his business operations.
The recipients are already pledging tacit support to President Museveni who is seeking another term five-year term in the next year’s election, by which time, he will have spent 40 years as the president of Uganda.
Denis Jawoko, the Arua Deputy Resident district commissioner who is the patron of the group will oversee the loan disbursement as chairman of the loans committee.
He urged other Emcees and media panelists to join the association, reasoning that the presidential donation is one way of appreciating their role in nation building.
“The media panelists have been defending government development agenda on airwaves and the MCs crack jokes even at funerals and therefore they relieve stress,” he said.
However, Jawoko warned that the MCs and Media panelists joining the association must be ready to tow the National Resistance Movement ideological line if they are to benefit from the loan.
“A dog or goat cannot be breast fed by a cow. So, if we know from your talks, actions and behavior that you are attacking NM, we will not allow you to get this money,” he said.
While advising the recipients to put the money to good use, Jawoko made it clear that anyone who attempts to jeopardize the program will not be tolerated.
“The government has done a lot of good things and bad things too, just like you. You have done a lot of bad things but has God killed you?” he quipped.
