MWANZA: UKEREWE District Council in Mwanza Region has disbursed loans worth 586 million/- to 57 groups of women, youths and people with disabilities under the 10 per cent loan programme for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.
The funds were handed over on Wednesday in Ukerewe District as part of the council’s efforts to expand access to financing for community-based economic activities.
The Ukerewe Head of the Community Development Division, Wanchoke Chinchibera said during the loan distribution ceremony that awareness of the programme and the importance of loan repayment has improved among residents.
He said the council plans to establish a special loan services clinic to provide education and advisory services to citizens, enabling more people to benefit from opportunities offered through the programme.
Ukerewe District Commissioner Christopher Ngubiagai urged beneficiaries to use the funds for their intended purposes and maintain financial discipline to support both personal and district development.
He reminded recipients that the loans are financed through the council’s internal revenue and must be repaid to allow other groups to access the fund.
ALSO READ: Women’s groups secure 136bn/- in 10pc loans
“These funds are not grants but loans sourced from the council’s internal revenue and must therefore be repaid. Beneficiaries should exercise financial discipline and invest the funds wisely as capital to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the district’s socio-economic development,” Mr Ngubiagai said.
Ukerewe District Council Executive Director, Vincent Mbua, said the loan programme remains ongoing and urged groups that have yet to meet the eligibility criteria to make the necessary adjustments so they can qualify for future disbursements.
Ukerewe District Council Chairman, Ramadhan Mazige called on beneficiaries to invest the funds productively, saying the loans should be used to improve livelihoods, increase output and strengthen household incomes.
One of the beneficiaries, Debora India, thanked the government for continuing to provide economic empowerment opportunities through the 10 per cent loan programme.
She said the financing would enable beneficiaries to expand and strengthen their businesses, adding that the funds would be utilised responsibly and repaid on time to allow more people to benefit from the programme in the future.