Cooperatives have discussed revival amid concerns over neglect by government. This was the gist of discussions of representatives of 293 Saccos, agricultural marketing, livestock/dairy and transport cooperatives from the Greater Bushenyi districts of Bushenyi, Rubirizi, Mitooma, Buhweju and Sheema. They had convened in Bushenyi Town at a stakeholders forum by Global Communities, a Usaid-funded organisation.
Speaking at the forum, Lauben Beingana, the chairperson, Banyankole Kweterana Cooperative Union, decried lack of sufficient funding from the government, which is among the prevailing issues failing their growth.
Though there were some efforts to promote business growth like Entandikwa, Prosperity for All, Youth Livelihood Project and others but they are not yet effective because resources are inadequate. “These interventions have been rolled out with limited impact on rural people’s livelihoods,” he said. “The cooperative movement, if boosted, would mobilise more Ugandans for higher production and productivity levels.”
The cooperatives’ representatives requested Parliament to cause creation of a cooperative development fund, which shall be managed by cooperatives through Uganda Central Cooperative Financial Services and credit offered at low interest rates.
David Byamukama, the Bushenyi district commercial officer, urged cooperatives to promote good governance by putting members’ interests as priority. He suggested cooperatives initiate deliberate efforts to link production, processing and marketing.
“Cooperatives thrived in 1960s, had a low ebb in 1970s and boomed again in 1980s. With liberalisation from 1992, they were caught off guard, which led to their failure among other reasons,” he noted.
Chris Ibyisintabyo, the field director, Development Economic Strengthening Intervention for Group Production (Design), urged leadership to influence activities of the cooperatives towards success for all members.
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