BY OBED KULE KITHENDE
Justice Livelihoods Health, a Nongovernmental Organization dealing in issues related to Gender Based Violence in Kasese district has agreed to pay a loan amounting to over 4 million shillings that Ms Jetress Ithungu, a resident of Kaghorwe village in Kyondo sub-county had acquired from KAMUSIME SACCO and failed to repay.
It is alleged that on January 03, 2023, Ithungu, a mother of five children, acquired a loan of 2 million shillings from the said SACCO to invest in her shop business and pay school fees for her children after the husband had abandoned her.
According to her after failing to pay, the money had accumulated and the SACCO management had started threatening to arrest her over her failure to service the loan.
Despite her efforts to acquire multiple loans from other financial institutions to settle the matter, they yielded no fruits.
The embattled mother decided to also abandon her children but before effecting the decision, she was forced to approach Kasese Youth Link for Development for Social support. She happily disclosed that the organization linked her to Justice Livelihoods Health that agreed to look into her issues.
Mr. Benon Kayanja, the Executive Director for Justice Livelihoods Health, who visited Ithungu at her home, noted that they would pay all the money she owes to the SACCO after realizing that it had caused her a lot of stress to an extend of proposing to end her life.
Ms Jackline Akong, a Gender Trainer at Justice Livelihoods Health, observed the need for skilling women so that they get their own money than opting to go for loans.
Mr. Juvenal Muke, the Kyondo sub-county Chairperson told the press that the lower local government has got increased cases of Gender Based Violence.
According to him, the Community Development Office handles between five to seven cases of Gender Based Violence on a daily basis.
ENDS