The board members of Pader-Abim community multipurpose electric cooperative society (PACMECS) have pledged to negotiate a longer period operational license.
This arose after Simon Peter Odoch, chairperson PACMECS Limited announced that this year (2023) PACMECS got operational license for six month only and this puts members into fear of losing their Business.
PACMECS Limited is a savings and credit cooperative organisation for electricians and has over 350 subscribed members across Acholi and Karamoja sub-region with 35 management staff engaged in installation of electricity lines.
Douglas Cosmas Okech, a former secretary for PACMECS Limited who is a member from Lira Pa Luo town council, appealed that Board members should also talk about removing 7% penalties for defaulting in order to help them realise good profit.
Okech says since the establishment of their cooperative Society in 2008 it is now 15 years and none of the subscribed members has received any profits and this sometimes makes them lose interest in the business.
He explained that board members should review and revise their memorandum of understanding with the Government because members are not benefiting from their Society.
Simon peter Odoch, the chairperson Board of PACMECS Limited, promised that members should not worry so much about the six-month license, saying that they will work hard to extend it.
In 2022, PACMECS management to realize profit of sh61.1m which was the first in the history since 2008.
This was despite facing many challenges arising from community members as their poles and some equipment are being vandalised that make them work at a loss.
There is also rampant replacement of poles and even rubbish burning next to poles mostly in Orom in kitgum and Geregere in Agago districts.
Denis Joseph Owoner, a member of PACMECS in Abim district accused Executive Board Members of over spending money on their sitting allowances totaling to sh14.8m which he alleged was not even approved by society members.
However, Isaac Odongo, the General Manager for PACMECS Limited, recently said their biggest problem was the issue of illegal use of power by individuals in the community.
Odongo says PACMECS will extend their activities injunction with Uganda Cooperative Alliance and mercy corps on climate smart and agriculture that will make them earn more.