PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE FOR WEALTH AND JOB CREATION –
(EMYOOGA)
                  THE CONSTITUTION OF
……………………………………………………… MYOOGA ASSOCIATION
                    Drawn by the Members
       Dated: Day of --------day of -------Month Year 2020
              Arrangement of Articles: EMYOOGA Associations
Preamble                                                         2
Article 1: Name of the Emyyoga Association.                      3
Article 2: Supremacy of the Constitution.                        3
Article 3: Location and Address of the Emyyoga Association.      3
Article 4: Guiding Principles.                                   3
Article 5: Aims and Objectives of the Emyyoga Association.       4
Article 6: Membership.                                           4
Article 7: Group Committees.                                     6
Article 8: Powers and Functions of the Committees.               6
Article 9: Group Leadership.                                     7
Article 10: Election and Tenure of the Executive Committee.      7
Article 11: Meetings.                                            8
Article 12: Dispute Resolution.                                  8
                                                              pg. 1
                 Constitution of
       ………………………………………………………………………
                 ASSOCIATION
                                    Preamble
Recognizing the importance of getting together to create jobs and Wealth of
members in our association and household;
Aware that the Government of the Republic of Uganda is encouraging the formation
of Emyooga Associations and SACCOs in order to promote Savings culture and
practice internal lending and where applicable access loans, seed capital and other
resources that could develop members as a group;
Committed to tackle development challenges collectively other than as individuals
for our betterment and prosperity;
Do     hereby     establish    an    ASSOCIATION         to    be     known     as
……………………………. EMYOOGA ASSOCIATION
Dated ……… day of ………… year 2020.
                                                                              pg. 2
  Article 1: Name of the Group.
                          The name of the Group shall be
          ……………………………………………………….. EMYOOGA
                                ASSOCIATION
  Article 2: Supremacy of the Constitution.
     This Constitution shall be the binding law of the group. Any inconsistency with
     it shall be null and void to the extent of its inconsistency.
  Article 3: Location and Address of the Association.
     The association shall be located in:
     Village/cell ……………………… ……………….
     Parish/ward/zone……………………...........................
     Sub-county……………………………………..
     Constituency ………………………………………………….
     District………………………………………………………………
  Article 4: Guiding Principles.
This group shall be guided by the following principles in all its activities, transactions
      and operations:
     1) Transparency
        There shall always be transparency and complete openness among members
        of the group in the transaction of its business; the group shall, in dealing with
        any institution, organization, individuals, association, groups, whether
        Government of the Republic of Uganda and its agencies or outside Uganda
        demand and encourage transparency.
     2) Accountability
        All group members shall be accountable to each individually and collectively
        as a group. In the exercise of the principle, all members shall present before
        the group details and receipts/evidence of activities implemented for the
        approval of the group members.
                                                                                     pg. 3
   3) Democracy
      The life and activities of the group shall run on the principles of natural justice,
      fairness and good faith.
   4) Team work
      Members shall always work as a team towards any activities of the group.
Article 5: Aims and Objectives of the Group.
  1) To undertake an economic enterprise/Omyooga to wealth of members and
      their families.
  2) To empower members by providing employment opportunities.
  3) To set up a saving fund to help members save and lend, to enhance members’
      income levels.
  4) To increase members’ access to credit and other services including external
      loans, seed capital, grants among others
  5) To undertake any such activities such as Training and receiving advisory
      services to the benefit of the group and its members.
  6) To ensure that members engage in development both as a group but also
      individually.
Article 6: Membership.
   1) Eligibility.
   Membership of the Group shall be 10-30 members who:
      (a) To be a member of ------------------------------------------------Emyooga
          Association, UGX ------------------------Nonrefundable membership fee
          will be paid to the Savings Group Account
      (b) Are Ugandan youth aged 18 and above years
      (c) Are bonafide residents of the same Village/Cell, Parish/Ward/Zone and
          Sub-county/Division/Town Council?
      (d) Is a community member of sound mind and law abiding.
      (e) Is acceptable to all group members to be a member.
                                                                               pg. 4
   (f) Is willing to participate in group activities and fulfill group obligations
       including repayment of loans.
   (g) If the membership of certain parish emyooga is more than 30, a second or
       3rd 0r 4th Emyooga in the same parish of similar enterprise will be formed.
2) Rights of Members.
Every group member shall:
  (a) Be entitled to attend all group meetings.
  (b) Vote and be voted to any committee position.
  (c) Share profits and losses arising from the activities of the group.
  (d) Have unrestricted access to all books of accounts maintained by the
       group.
  (e) Be entitled to request for special General Meeting.
  (f) Take part in activities of the group.
3) Responsibilities of Members.
Every group member shall:
  (a) Attend all meetings of the group.
  (b) Participate actively in project implementation in accordance with the
       group activity schedule.
  (c) Participate as a committee member.
  (d) Initiate and formulate policies for approval in the annual general
       meeting.
  (e) Exercise control on effective use of resources.
4) Liability of Members to the Group
                                                                             pg. 5
     (a) In line with the guidelines of Emyooga Programme implemented under
          the Ministry of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic
          Development, members shall:
         i. Co-guarantee one another for purposes of implementation of the
              financed Project.
        ii. Ensure that individually and collectively they meet all the obligations
              spelt out for beneficiaries under the Emyooga Programme.
     (b) Group members who leave the group shall remain liable to the group until
          all the funds received under the Emyooga Programme are well utilized to
          benefit each other
     (c) Group members who leave the group shall not be entitled to benefits
          derived from group project funded under the Emyooga Programme.
  5) Cessation of Membership.
  A member shall lose membership only when he/she:
     (a) Dies.
     (b) Decides to vacate the group on his/her own will subject to article 6(4) b-
         c.
     (c) Has been expelled by the group for misconduct.
     (d) Fails to attend group activities as prescribed by the group.
     (e) Fails to attend three consecutive group meetings of the group without
         genuine reason in writing.
Article 7: Group Committees.
    There shall be the following committees: Project Management Committee,
    Loan Committee and Social Accountability Committee. Each member shall
    belong to one of the above committee.
Article 8: Powers and Functions of the Committees.
  1) Association Management Committee
                                                                              pg. 6
   The Association Management Committee shall have 5 members and shall ensure
         that the project is properly managed in a transparent, efficient and effective
         manner to meet the objectives of the group. In doing so they shall:
       (a) Shall represent the Association at the District Emyooga SACCO
       (b) Mobilize members to actively participate in project implementation.
       (c) Ensure accuracy and proper maintenance of group records.
       (d) Award contracts to contractors/service providers.
       (e) Monitor and supervise contractors,
       (f) Make payments for all eligible expenditure.
       (g) Prepare and submit monthly progress and financial reports to the group
            and sub-county.
  2) Loan Committee
The Loan Committee shall ensure that a loan/lending policy is in place in accordance
     with the group activity plan: The Association loan Committee must evaluate
      and establish clear guidelines and conditions (documented in the
      Association constitution) pertaining to:
      ● The loan period;
      ● The maximum loan size;
      ● The service fee;
      ● Purpose of the loan – as a consideration for approving the loan
      ● Loan verification activties
  3. Social Accountability Committee
The Social Accountability Committee shall ensure that group activities are done in
     accordance with agreed processes by the group and conform to ethical
     standards and shall promote transparency, accountability and value for
     money, focusing on elimination of collusion, corruption, inequitable sharing
     of resources and benefits, gender exclusion and nepotism.
                                                                                  pg. 7
Article 9: Group Leadership.
  The Association Management Committee shall form the executive of the group
  leadership and shall be composed of 5 people who will be nominated and
  seconded by members. These will include;
   1) The Chairperson who shall:
        (a) Preside over all group meetings and shall in case of a tie have a casting
            vote.
        (b) Be the group spokesperson.
        (c) Prepare the agenda of the meetings of the group in consultation with
            the Secretary.
        (d) Ensure that all decisions made by the group are properly implemented.
        (e) Be a principal signatory to any group bank account.
  2) Vice Chairperson who shall assist and deputize the Chairperson.
  3) The Secretary who shall:
        (a) In consultation with the Chairperson, convene all the group meetings
            by sending invitation to all members in an agreed manner.
        (b) Keep updated records of the group affairs including minutes of
            meetings and membership records?
        (c) Promptly send notice for group meetings or other matters concerning
            the group.
        (d) Record decision of group meetings.
        (e) Be a principal signatory to any group bank account.
  4) Assistant Secretary who shall deputize the Secretary.
  5) Treasurer who shall:
        (a) Receive and disburse under the direction of the Project Management
            Committee, all monies of the group.
        (b) Ensure that all financial transactions of the group are recorded and kept
            for audit purposes.
        (c) Receive or pay all monies for the group and issue or receive receipt for
            payments.
        (d) Keep proper records of all financial matters of the group.
                                                                                pg. 8
        (e) Draw up financial accountability statements.
        (f) Perform any other duty of a financial nature on behalf of the group.
        (g) Be a principal signatory to any group bank account.
Article 10: Election and Tenure of the Executive Committee.
  1) The executive shall be elected from amongst the members and by the members
      of the group for a term of two (2) years.
  2) The election of the executive committee shall be by secret ballot.
  3) The terms of office for which the executive committee is elected under
      paragraph one above shall expire at the end of the second year.
  4) Any executive committee member of the group shall be nominated and
      seconded by any other member in a meeting.
  5) Any nominated and seconded member to serve on the executive committee
      shall receive not less than two thirds votes of all the members of the group
      present at the meeting.
  6) Where a vacancy occurs in the office of any executives committee other than
      by reason of expiry of the term for which the holder of the office was elected,
      the person elected to fill the vacancy shall hold the office for the remaining
      period of that term.
  7) Any member of the executive may resign his/her office by writing under
      his/her hand giving reasons for the resignation. He/she shall stay in his/her
      office until the group elects his/her successor.
  8) A person who has vacated his/her office shall be eligible for any other office
      provided his/her vacation of the previous office had not been due to gross
      misconduct.
  9) Any executive member may be removed from office for inability to perform
      the functions of his/her office arising from infirmity of body or mind or for
      misbehavior and shall be removed for misbehavior by half of the members
      present in a meeting.
                                                                                pg. 9
Article 11: Meetings.
  1) There shall be weekly, monthly and annual general meeting of the group. The
      Chairperson may convene a general meeting anytime to discuss a specific
      subject as may be necessary for the proper functioning of the group business.
  2) Decisions of the entire group or of its committees shall be by a simple majority
      of the votes of members present at the time of voting.
  3) The Chairperson shall have a second casting vote in case of a tie at any
      meeting of the group.
  4) All meeting of the group shall not be used as a platform for character
      assassination, discussion of personal business of any member of the group,
      and to further ones political or religious ideology.
Article 12: Dispute Resolution.
  1) All disputes shall be resolved amicably by the group through internal
      meetings.
  2) In case this fails the matter can be referred to a reputable member in the
      community including the recommenders and local council leaders.
  3) Should this fail, the matter may be taken to the Community Development
      Officer at the Sub-County/ Division/Town Council.
  4) The District/Municipality/City Authority shall be the last level of appeal for
      arbitration.
                                                                               pg. 10
We the members whose names and signatures/ thumbprints appear below do
hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution
of……………………………………………………….…………………………….
   This……………………….day………………………….
   year…………………………...
                                                                         pg. 11
NO   NAME   POSITION      NAME OF   TEL CONTACT NATIONAL ID   SIGNATURE
                          ZONE &                    NIN
                          PARISH
1           Chairperson
2           Vice
            Chairperson
3           Secretary
4           Treasurer
5           Secretary
6           Member
7           Member
8           Member
9           Member
10          Member
11          Member
12          Member
13          Member
14          Member
15          Member
NO   NAME   POSITION   NAME OF   TEL CONTACT NATIONAL ID   SIGNATURE
                       ZONE &                    NIN
                       PARISH
16          Member
17          Member
18          Member
20          Member
21          Member
22          Member
23          Member
24          Member
25          Member
26          Member
27          Member
28          Member
29          Member
30          Member
                                                             pg. 1
…………………………………………..Emyooga Association
       WORKPLAN 2020/202021.
No   Activity          Objectives       Location        Responsible   Time frame   Means of
                                                        person                     verification
1.   Registration of   To acquire a                                                Certificate     ……
     the group         certificate of                                              acquired
                       operation
2.   Account           To improve on                                               Account        ………
     opening           financial                                                   opened
                       management
3.   Group meetings    To improve on    ……………village    Executive     Weekly       Attendance     ………
                       performance                      members                    & reports
                                        ………. parish
                       of the group
4.   Loans &           To empower       ……….. village   Development   Weekly       loans and      ………
     Savings           the members                      committee                  savings
                                        …………. parish
                       financially                      members                    scheme
6.   Improve on our    To improve on    ……………           Executive     Continuous   Business       ………
                                        village
     ---------------   welfare of the                   members       activity     improved
     Omyooga           members          ………. parish
     Enterprises
7.   Total                                                                                         ……