Uganda Cooperative Alliance Hosts Lesotho Delegation on Benchmarking Visit
23rd October 2025, Kampala, Uganda - The Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) recently hosted a delegation of eight members from Lesotho, led by officials from the Ministry of Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing, on a benchmarking visit aimed at learning from Uganda's experiences in cooperative development.
The Lesotho team, which included representatives from the Ministry and other cooperative stakeholders, sought to understand how UCA executes its mandate as the apex body for cooperatives in Uganda. Discussions focused on best practices and strategies for promoting cooperative growth and development, with a particular emphasis on access to finance and risk management.
During the engagement, the delegation shared insights on Lesotho's Cooperative Development Fund, which provides affordable financing to cooperatives, strengthens institutional capacity, and promotes cooperative entrepreneurship. The Lesotho team expressed interest in Uganda's efforts to revive the Cooperative Bank, a move they believe will enhance access to financial services for cooperatives.
"Lesotho has established a Cooperative Development Fund, which serves purposes similar to what a National Cooperative Bank would do," said a member of the delegation. "We were pleased to learn that Uganda is in the process of reviving the Cooperative Bank, a move we believe is both timely and necessary to enhance access to financial services for cooperatives."
The delegation also explored ways in which UCA supports cooperatives to insure their assets and manage risks, with a view to replicating successful models in Lesotho.
UCA officials explained their partnership with Cooperative Insurance Company (CIC), which provides cooperative-based insurance solutions to safeguard members' deposits and strengthen the resilience of cooperative societies. The delegation was informed about the chairperson's role in CIC's board, highlighting the strategic advantage in connecting cooperatives to insurance services.
Discussions also focused on broader developmental issues affecting the cooperative movement in Uganda, including taxation challenges, regulatory framework gaps, and advocacy efforts. The delegation commended UCA's efforts in strengthening and professionalizing the cooperative movement in Uganda.
"We are impressed by the work being done by UCA and look forward to strengthening our cooperation with Uganda to promote cooperative development in our country," said an official from the Lesotho Ministry of Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing.
The visit underscores the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among cooperative organizations in Africa, and is expected to yield benefits for both Uganda and Lesotho in their efforts to promote cooperative growth and development.
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