UCA Draws Strategic Lessons from ICA-Africa Regional Cooperative Conference in Ethiopia
Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) participated in the 2026 ICA-Africa Regional Cooperative Conference held from 26–28 October 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, reaffirming its commitment to advancing inclusive, sustainable and economically empowered cooperative societies in Uganda.
Held under the theme “Decent Work for All: Worker Cooperatives and the Care Economy – Advancing Inclusion in Africa,” the conference brought together cooperative leaders, policymakers and development partners from across Africa to explore the role of cooperatives in creating dignified employment, strengthening social inclusion and transforming livelihoods.
Represented by Ms. Oroma Emmanuela, the Vice Chairperson of the UCA Board and Ms. Jacqueline Zawedde, the Head of Communications and Marketing, UCA participated in discussions that highlighted the untapped potential of worker cooperatives, particularly in the care economy, where women and young people continue to face limited recognition, inadequate remuneration and barriers to economic participation.
The conference emphasised the need to broaden cooperative development beyond traditional sectors, positioning cooperatives as important drivers of decent work, entrepreneurship, social protection and sustainable economic growth.
A key highlight of UCA's participation was a benchmarking visit to the Cooperative Bank of Oromia, which provided valuable insights into cooperative banking, digital transformation and innovative financial services. The bank's experience in leveraging technology to expand financial inclusion offered important lessons for Uganda, particularly as UCA advances efforts towards the revival of the National Cooperative Bank through the National Alliance of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (NASACCO).
The visit underscored the importance of strong cooperative ownership, sound institutional governance, digital innovation and strategic partnerships in building a sustainable cooperative financial institution that responds to members' needs.
UCA's participation reinforced the importance of regional collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation in strengthening Africa's cooperative movement. The Alliance will leverage the lessons and partnerships from the conference to inform its strategic interventions, promote inclusive cooperative development and contribute to Uganda's broader agenda of employment creation, financial inclusion and sustainable economic transformation.
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