WestNile Entreprenuers and Contractors Association: Centenary Bank is the Only Bank that Appears to Understand Situation of People in WestNile Region.
Watch the video here 👇 in the link.
The association of entrepreneurs and contractors in WestNile region are vowing to abandon working with Stanbic Bank, Finance Trust Bank and other banks in WestNile region for not treating them well.
The members made the remarks on Thursday 6-April-2023 during a meeting held in Rosevilla Hotel, Arua City.
The quorum which comprised of members from other associations; Arua chamber of commerce, Arua city development forum and Arua business community have firmly resolved to form a strong, united association dubbed “WESTNILE ENTERPRENEURS AND CONCTRACTORS ASSOCIATION” to spearhead interests of the entire business fraternity in the region.
Speaking during the meeting, contractor Mr Ezama Ham Mizamil whose company is IRON INVESTMENTS Ltd, said, we are people who love doing business but we most times get frustrated by the financial institutions who put strict terms and conditions, especially for Contractors and other Business partners.
Contractor secures a bid valued at 1 billion Shs for 6 months, he runs to the bank with approved contract documents and land titles as collateral to borrow a loan of just 500 million Shs but the banks will delay the contractor for one month or two months into the contract duration, Mr Ezama Ham lamented as he pointed at “Bid Guarantee” as one of the major challenges affecting them from the side of Banks.
Mr Ham told the quorum, many banks are concealing informations on this loan “Covid-19 funds” among others which he said the government of Uganda earmarked two years ago as loans to boom the business fraternity but upto today, no contractor in the whole of WestNile region has benefited from it.
He also talked of bribery, which he claims many contractors have to pay monies to some NGOs & District Local Governments in order to win and execute contracts.
In his closing remarks, Mr Ezama Ham appealed to the entrepreneurs and contractors in WestNile region to be united and form a strong association, something he said, it is partly envy, jealousy and disunity amongst the business fraternity in WestNile region that has contributed to their underestimation by banks, NGOs and District local governments.
“As contractors, we must compete by presenting technical documents and work plans, and not by reducing the cost of contracts” Mr Ham Mizamil averred as he strongly urges contractors not to be cheap.
The president of Arua City Development Forum, Mr Dracabo Ceaser who was baffled by recent research that show WestNile as the second poorest region in Uganda, said, there are three factors, namely;
1. Ignorance through subverting information
2. isolation and
3. hopelessness as the key reasons contributing to vicious circle of poverty in WestNile region.
Mr Dracabo appealed to the upcoming interim leadership of “West Nile Entrepreneurs and Contractors Association” not to allow the association be divided by selfish politicians in the region.
The moderator of farmers in WestNile region, Mr Draji Moses who acknowledged disunity, jealousy, tribalism and envy as the major factors tearing away business fraternity in West Nile, identified lack of formidable leadership as a great gap causing many of these challenges.
Mr Draji recommended, joined the rest of the people in recommending for formation of staunch Association that will comprise of businessmen and businesses women from different backgrounds, a recommendation that was later adopted in the meeting as one of the resolutions for the next meeting that will be scheduled soon.
The Chairperson of Cassava farmers association, Mrs Ayikoru Christine decried the character of many people in WestNile region which she said, they only want to attend meetings when there is some transport allowance and food.
She promised to fully embrace this new association upto its totality.
Rest of the members who didn’t speak in the meeting conferred to the deliberations made by other Members.
Click on this 👇👇👇👇 link
https://youtu.be/qhgpjzln5IY to watch the proceedings from the meeting that was held on Thursday 6-April-2023 at Rosevilla Hotel, Arua City.
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