“I, Oluka Robert, commit myself to apply the knowledge I have learnt from this cash flow training to implement it in my existing business of money lending in the community where I come from, Ocelakur Sub-County in Kalaki District.”

This is the pledge that Oluka made right after he participated in our training on how to prepare and to use cash flows for income generating projects.

A training that is part of “Module 4: Initiating and Sustaining Innovations for Positive Change in Rural Uganda” of our “Mentoring young adults into innovators against poverty” project.

All who are familiar with access to rural and agricultural finance, or the lack of it thereof, in rural Uganda will appreciate that the services of a money lender are often welcome in a rural setting, such as of Oluka’s community, Ocelakur.

It is not expected that Oluka will give out interest free loans to members of his community.  However, it is our expectation that among his products will be those that are accessible to the active poor in his community.

It is our expectation that Oluka will strive not to be like the Biblical money lender, who, as described in Proverbs 22:7 is like “the rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”  Oluka should run his business in such a manner that it is viable, but that it is also socially responsible, we hope.

And it is against this background that we, at CPAR Uganda, are cheering Oluka on and we look forward to receiving his planning documents for his money lending business for our review and support.