Lira, Uganda – August 24, 2025
The Former LRA Captives and Returnees Association has been working towards empowering its members through financial literacy and savings groups.
The group is operating in five (5) districts across lango subregion namely; Lira District, Alebtong, Oyam, Lira City, Kole, and Otuke District were affected by LRA.
According to Mr. Ogenyi Abel, the coordinator of the association, members have formed Savings Groups (VLSA) with support from the Micro Finance Support Centre (MFSC) and was formed in 2013 with small number of members to empower members with financial literacy and savings mechanisms.
Mr. Ogenyi Abel, the group’s coordinator, acknowledged the transformative impact of these trainings
Ogenyi also told this publication, the financial literacy programs helped us understand savings, loans, and investments. But now, we need more than just knowledge—we need tangible support to sustain our livelihoods,”
Many returnees rely on farming to rebuild their lives, but the lack of seeds, tools, and capital has crippled their efforts.
Ogenyi appealed to the Ugandan government and NGOs to provide crops and farming inputs to help the group achieve self-sufficiency.
“We are not asking for handouts—we are asking for tools to work. If we get seeds and equipment, we can feed ourselves and even sell surplus produce,” he added.
Okello Morish, the chairperson from Apala Subcounty, recounted the group’s journey—from humble beginnings to its current struggles.
“We started with just a few members, but now we have many. Every Sunday, each member weekly savings UGX 5000 and registration fee UGx 10000. But inflation and rising costs have made it hard to sustain our projects,” Okello explained.
Despite reaching out to local leaders for assistance, the group has received little to no support.
“We have written letters, met officials, but nothing changes. Our members are losing hope,” he lamented.
The association’s story reflects a broader challenge faced by LRA returnees in northern Uganda—many still struggle with poverty, trauma, and limited opportunities. Without immediate intervention, their hard-earned progress risks unraveling.
