UCA Calls on SACCO Leaders to Embrace Strategic Partnerships and Member-Centred Growth at National Leadership Summit

 Kyankwanzi, Uganda - The Uganda Cooperative Savings and Credit Union (UCSCU) is this week hosting the 1st SACCOs Leadership Summit at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi, bringing together more than 200 SACCO leaders and managers from across the country for a week-long engagement on strengthening the cooperative financial sector.

The summit, which commenced on Monday, is providing a platform for leaders to reflect on the role of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) in advancing Uganda's socio-economic transformation and contributing to the Government's Tenfold Growth Strategy. Participants are exploring practical approaches to enhancing SACCO performance, expanding financial inclusion, and positioning cooperatives as key drivers of wealth creation and national development.

Representing the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), Mr. Ivan Asiimwe, the General Secretary delivered a presentation on "Advocacy and Opportunities for Cooperation," highlighting the importance of strategic positioning to enable SACCOs to leverage emerging opportunities within Uganda's financial ecosystem.

The General Secretary encouraged SACCOs to strengthen their engagement with key institutions and programmes, including the Bank of Uganda (BoU), the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC), the Parish Development Model/Parish Revolving Fund initiatives, and the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), among others. He noted that proactive collaboration with these institutions would enhance access to financing, capacity building, and other growth opportunities for SACCOs. 

He also shared updates on the Farmers' Organisations for Rural Transformation (FORT) Project, implemented by UCA, which is strengthening and empowering Smallholder Farmers (SHFs) across the country. The project presents a significant opportunity for SACCOs to expand their membership base by integrating organised farmer groups into the cooperative financial system, thereby increasing access to affordable financial services while promoting inclusive rural development.

In his closing remarks, the General Secretary urged SACCO leaders to remain steadfast in upholding cooperative values by placing members at the centre of their operations and ensuring transparency, accountability, and sound governance in the management of their institutions.

The week-long summit continues with a series of presentations, discussions, and experience-sharing sessions aimed at equipping SACCO leaders with the knowledge and strategies needed to build resilient, sustainable, and member-focused financial cooperatives that contribute meaningfully to Uganda's economic transformation.