The Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) has elected Rev. Father Emmanuel Safari as its new Chairperson, marking a new chapter in the leadership of Uganda’s cooperative movement. Father Safari, a long-serving cooperator and Catholic priest from the western region, was elected unopposed, reflecting the delegates’ overwhelming confidence in his leadership and dedication to the cooperative cause.
During the UCA General Assembly, Father Safari received 74 votes, officially confirming his election as Chairperson of the Board. In his acceptance speech, he expressed deep humility and gratitude to the members for the trust placed in him. “God chose me when I am not worthy. He presented me before you, and I thank you for electing me,” he said, to applause from the delegates.
He reflected on his lifelong commitment to service, recalling a formative encounter with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 1983, before he became president. “That day, I was privileged to spend the whole day with him and other colleagues. He told us that one day we would see him as the President of Uganda—and indeed, it came to pass,” he said, noting that this early relationship later helped him advocate for tax exemptions for cooperatives.
Who is Rev. Fr. Safari Emmanuel?
Born on July 14, 1965, in Kisoro District, Rev. Fr. Safari Emmanuel has been an active cooperator for over 25 years. He joined the Uganda Cooperative Alliance in September 2005 and has since served diligently as a delegate and later as UCA Treasurer. Known for his integrity and steadfast commitment to cooperative principles, he has played a key role in rebuilding financial trust and promoting transparency within the organization.
Beyond UCA, Father Safari has served as Chairperson of the Kebisoni Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Ltd in Rukungiri, where he has championed responsible financial management, member empowerment, and productive investment within the community.
Taking over from outgoing Chairperson Mr. Johnas Tweyambe, Father Safari expressed appreciation for the solid foundation his predecessor left behind. “I thank Mr. Tweyambe for his diligent service. I will take it from there, together with my committee members and the management,” he said.
Looking ahead, the new Chairperson pledged to focus on reviving and capitalizing the Cooperative Bank, recovering cooperative properties, and strengthening advocacy, networking, and partnerships across the cooperative movement. “Among the things we must do together as a board, committees, and management is to make the Cooperative Bank what it should be,” he affirmed.
He also thanked the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives for guiding the movement’s growth and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for partnering with the Alliance in the recovery of lost cooperative assets. “I thank God for the gift of lobbying,” he added, “and I am grateful to all who have welcomed and worked with us to recover what belongs to the cooperators.”
In his closing remarks, Rev. Fr. Safari congratulated the newly elected board members and pledged selfless service to the cooperative fraternity. “Together, we shall build a stronger, more united cooperative movement that truly works for the people of Uganda,” he said.
Mr. Wilson Bamwesigye, from Malongo Farmers Cooperative Enterprise in Central Uganda, was elected Treasurer, unopposed, with 72 votes. An accountant by profession with 25 years of experience in cooperatives, he pledged to strengthen financial management and accountability within the Alliance.
The delegates also elected two new board members:
Mr. Wakinya Samuel from Bushika Cooperative in Eastern Uganda, who received 76 votes.
Hon. Maxwell Akora from Lango Cooperative Union in Northern Uganda, who secured 49 votes.
Hon. Akora, a Member of Parliament and longtime cooperator, has been instrumental in lobbying for UCA’s subvention through the national budget.
With this new team in place, the Uganda Cooperative Alliance enters a renewed phase of leadership and unity. The cooperative movement now looks ahead with optimism under the stewardship of Rev. Fr. Safari Emmanuel and his colleagues, who have pledged to work collectively to recover assets, revitalize the Cooperative Bank, and advance the prosperity of Uganda’s cooperators.
