Uganda Launches Cooperative Education Programme to Strengthen Leadership and Professionalisation of the Cooperative Movement
Uganda has taken a significant step towards strengthening the future of its cooperative movement with the official launch of the National Cooperative Education Programme, a landmark initiative aimed at building a new generation of skilled, innovative and professional cooperative leaders.
The programme was officially launched on 22 September 2026 by Uganda's Third Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Rukia Isanga Nakadama, representing H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, during the 2nd National Cooperatives Conference held at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in Kampala.
Spearheaded by the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), in partnership with MUBS and Moshi Cooperative University in Tanzania, the initiative marks a strategic shift towards institutionalising cooperative education as a foundation for sustainable growth, effective governance and long-term competitiveness.
Through this partnership, Uganda is establishing structured pathways for cooperative education, spanning undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, with a doctoral programme under development. The initiative will also provide specialised professional and executive training tailored to cooperative leaders, managers, board members and practitioners. The academic programmes are expected to commence in the 2027/2028 academic year.
Rt. Hon. Rukia Isanga Nakadama, said, “The future of our cooperative movement depends on strong institutions, accountable leadership and skilled people. Investing in cooperative education is investing in sustainable enterprises that will create opportunities, strengthen livelihoods and contribute to Uganda's economic transformation.”
Beyond academic qualifications, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between cooperative principles and modern enterprise management, equipping institutions with the competencies required to navigate increasingly complex financial, regulatory and competitive environments.
While addressing the cooperatives at the National Cooperative Conference, Assoc. Prof. Rachel Mindra Katoroogo, Deputy Principal, Makerere University Business School said, “Cooperative education must go beyond academic qualifications to develop the practical competencies needed to manage modern cooperative enterprises. Through this partnership, we are building a foundation for professional leadership, innovation and stronger cooperative institutions, with lessons and opportunities that extend beyond Uganda.”
Prof. Mindra further said that the partnership carries wider significance for Africa's cooperative movement. By bringing together academic expertise from Tanzania and practical industry experience from Uganda, it demonstrates the potential of cross-border collaboration in strengthening cooperative education, research, knowledge exchange and institutional capacity across the continent.
The launch formed a major highlight of the National Cooperatives Conference, which brought together cooperative leaders, policymakers, academia, development partners and regional representatives to examine opportunities for advancing inclusive growth, industrialisation, access to finance and cooperative sustainability.
For Uganda, the initiative represents an investment in the people who will shape the next chapter of cooperative development. For Africa, it offers a promising model for strengthening the human capital and institutional excellence needed to position cooperatives as competitive, resilient and people-centred drivers of sustainable economic transformation.
By investing in cooperative education today, Uganda is helping build the leadership, knowledge and institutions that will sustain the cooperative movement for generations to come.
By Jacqueline Zawedde
Head Communications and Marketing- Uganda Cooperative Alliance.