Uganda Co-Operative Alliance Hosted Members Of Parliament On The Committee Of Tourism, Trade And Industry On Wednesday 19th February 2025 In The UCA Conference Hall, Plot 47/49 Nkrumah Rd

Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) is an Umbrella Organization for over 30,000 Registered Cooperative Unions and Societies in Uganda. UCA promotes and supports Government efforts in achieving social-economic transformation of the country through cooperative development. The Cooperative Societies’ Act Cap 112 of 1991, and Cooperative Regulations of 1992, recognize Uganda Cooperative Alliance. “The Uganda Cooperative Alliance Ltd. Shall be the apex body for all Registered Cooperative Societies – Sec 4 (2)”. The Cooperative Societies’ Act 2020 as Amended gives UCA Legal mandate to: Advocate and represent the interests of cooperatives at National, Regional and International level, Consider and make recommendations to the Government on matters of policy relating to the cooperative movement, Make representation to the government as it may think fit in relation to any matter affecting registered cooperative societies, Settle disputes within cooperatives as and when they arise & Carry out any other duty assigned to it under the Act.

UCA’s other major mandate is to provide capacity building in the areas of: Business skilling and business incubation, Technical & advisory support services to Government, Cooperatives and other stakeholders on cooperative development matters, Tailor made trainings in all cooperative and group business operations, Policy formulation, implementation and compliance in the cooperative movement, Business linkages; both forward and backward linkages, Resource mobilization for cooperative development, Audits for efficient and effective service delivery by cooperatives.

 Purpose of Activity:

Purpose of Activity: UCA organized a half-day stakeholder meeting to present and discuss the strategic direction of UCA and the Cooperative movement for the next five years. Participants discussed the progress of the Cooperative Bank establishment, strategies for integrating PDM and Emyooga SACCOs into the mainstream sector, legal challenges faced by cooperatives, especially SACCOs, the need for cooperative education and training, cooperative ideology, principles, and values, and the contribution of cooperatives to the industrialization agenda as outlined in NDP IV (Sustainable industrialization for inclusive growth, employment, and wealth creation).

The objectives of the training were

• To support the establishment of the cooperative bank as per the road map presented including supporting a feasibility study on the bank.
• To urgently address the current legal challenges in cooperatives working together with the UCA legal team and the parliamentary legal committee.
• To strengthen UCA by increasing the annual budget allocation.
• To enhance the budget allocation for Ministry of Trade Industry & Cooperatives to implement on her mandate.
• To provide budget allocation to UCA for renovation and upgrading of UCA/ cooperators building on Nkrumah road.
• To promote cooperative education and training at all levels including budget allocation to enable UCA and her partners to promote degree programs in cooperative education and training, Cooperative ideology, principles and values and the contribution of cooperatives to the industrialization agenda as enshrined under NDP IV.

The presenters and topics trained about were:

Investing In Cooperative Education & Training For Cooperative Growth, Better Service Delivery & Sustainable Development By Prof. Rachel Mindra Katoroogo

The Need For A Cooperative Bank  By Cpa Ivan Asiimwe

The Power Of Cooperation By Cpa Ivan Asiimwe

 The Strategic Direction Of Uca  And The Cooperative Sector – Alignment With The Ndp Vi By Mr Solomon Kagaba Consultant Agriterra

 The Conflicting Legal And Regulatory Framework For Cooperatives And Saccos In Uganda By Senior Associate Ferdinand Tumuhaise

Action points taken were

• Members of Parliament pledged to support the establishment of the cooperative bank.
• Commitment to address the current legal challenges in cooperatives by Legislators.
• Legislators vowed to strengthen UCA by increasing the annual budget allocation.
• Policymakers further pledged to enhance the budget allocation for Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperative to implement on her mandate.
• The committee undertook to provide a budget allocation to UCA for the renovation and upgrading of UCA building on Nkrumah road.
• Lawmakers promised to promote cooperative education and training at all levels to enable UCA and her partners to promote degree programs in cooperative education

 Recommendations were:

• UCA should organize more engagements with Legislators to follow up on the various commitments made during the meeting.
• Policymakers should be duly furnished with sufficient information pertaining to issues discussed during the meeting.

 H.E. Frederieke Quispel, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a representative of Uganda Minister of Agriculture, Animal  Industry and Fisheries during the launch.

On Thursday November 14, 2024, the Netherlands Embassy in Uganda launched four (4) projects aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in Uganda through cooperatives and farmer groups.  The launch was made by H.E. Frederieke Quispel, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands together with a representative of the Uganda Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. These projects are aimed at improving food and nutrition security, sustainable land use, and increased incomes for farmers in Uganda.The four projects all valued at 84 million Euros include:

Farmer Organizations for Rural Transformation (FORT) Project

The Farmer Organizations for Rural Transformation (FORT) Project will empower 200,000 rural households by strengthening 60 agricultural cooperatives, 60 Savings and credit cooperatives and 180 farmer groups to become centers of service for smallholder farmers across 27 districts in Uganda.

H.E, the Ambassador making her remarks during the launch

Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth of Highland Farming Systems for Rural Transformation (BRIGHT)

It is a four-year project implemented by IFDC. It will reach more than 100,000 households in Kigezi, Elgon, and Rwenzori regions. The project aims to improve food and nutrition security, sustainable land use, and increased incomes for farmers in these regions.

CommonGround, is a four-year project implemented by Wageningen Environment Research (WENR) – Wageningen University.

The project will build resilient farmer communities and watersheds in Kigezi, Elgon, and Rwenzori highland regions of Uganda. Using Participatory Integrated Planning, the project will reach 150,000 households to promote resilient farming systems, watershed restoration, and improved marketing of agricultural produce.