Business people in Mukono Municipality have appealed to authorities to intervene and help them recover millions of shillings allegedly lost in a collapsed savings scheme, Najjembe Development Microfinance.
The affected members, drawn from areas including Mukono-Wantoni, Seeta, Kiyunga, Kalagi, Nasuuti and Katosi, gathered early this week at the group’s main offices in Wantoni Town, only to find the premises deserted. The offices, located at Ssonko Plaza, were reportedly abandoned without notice, leaving thousands of savers in distress.
Members say they had expected to share out their savings at the end of last year during the festive season, a tradition the group had reportedly upheld since its formation in 2021. However, the anticipated payouts never materialized, and no clear explanation was given for the delay.
“We were told the system had challenges and that everything would be sorted in January,” one member said. “When January ended, the excuses also ended. They began avoiding us completely.”
According to the members, officials would open the office briefly in the early morning hours before disappearing. Eventually, the office was shut altogether, and since the beginning of this year, none of the administrators has been seen on the premises.
Efforts to reach them by phone have reportedly been futile, as calls go unanswered.
Those affected include chapati vendors, roadside chips sellers, roasted chicken vendors, shopkeepers, market traders, boda boda mechanics and other small-scale entrepreneurs who rely heavily on daily earnings.
Many say they began saving with the microfinance group in 2021 and had not experienced any major problems until late last year, when the leadership allegedly began acting suspiciously. Members report that the group had over 10,000 savers contributing varying amounts depending on their ability, with no fixed minimum requirement.
Some claim to have saved between Shs6 million and Shs10 million, while others say their deposits were close to Shs13 million.
“At first, they stopped giving out loans, saying they only wanted active savers,” another member explained. “We did not suspect anything because the group had been operating well. But when we started demanding our savings, they kept blaming the system.”
Frustrated members have now issued an ultimatum to the group’s administrators, demanding that their money be returned by Wednesday. They warn that failure to comply will prompt them to report the matter to police for investigations and possible arrests.
“We are ready to take legal action. They must refund us,” one of the aggrieved savers said during the gathering.
Some members admitted that tensions are rising among victims, with a few blaming one another for introducing them to the scheme. They are now calling upon security authorities and district leaders to intervene before the situation escalates.
Contacted by phone, the group’s manager, Joel Ssebulime, dismissed allegations of fraud and reassured members that their money is safe. He attributed the delays to technical disruptions in the group’s electronic system.
“Our system experienced technical challenges, but we are working tirelessly to fix it,” Ssebulime said. “Members will receive their money soon.”
However, many savers remain skeptical, arguing that the prolonged closure of the offices and the continued silence from administrators raise serious concerns.
As anxiety grows across Mukono District, affected traders say their livelihoods are at stake. For many, the savings represented years of hard work set aside to expand businesses, pay school fees, and support their families.
Local leaders and security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
