President Museveni to Launch National Cooperative Savings and Credit Society at 2025 Cooperative Conference
The high-level gathering will take place this Thursday at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, bringing together more than 1,000 participants.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to grace the National Cooperative Conference 2025, organised by the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), in what is anticipated to be a landmark event for the country’s cooperative movement.
The high-level gathering will take place this Thursday at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, bringing together more than 1,000 participants. According to UCA General Secretary, Ivan Asiimwe, the conference will run under the theme: “Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Livelihoods through Cooperatives for a Better World.”
Launch of National Cooperative Savings and Credit Society
One of the most significant highlights of the event will be the launch of the National Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Limited, a precursor to the much-anticipated National Cooperative Bank.
The new institution is envisioned as a member-driven financial body designed to extend affordable and accessible financial services to unions, Area Cooperative Enterprises (ACEs), and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), including those under government programmes such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM).
The closure of Uganda’s first Cooperative Bank in May 1999 by the Bank of Uganda due to undercapitalisation and governance challenges left a major void in the financial sector, resulting in the loss of deposits and assets. Efforts to revive the cooperative banking model resumed in August 2023, when the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) established a steering committee of representatives from key cooperative organisations.
The launch of this national cooperative financial institution is seen as a pivotal step toward realising the vision of a full-fledged National Cooperative Bank, capable of unlocking financial access for millions of Ugandans engaged in cooperative ventures.
Key Themes and Focus Areas
The conference will address some of the pressing issues facing Uganda’s cooperative sector, including:
Strengthening cooperative education and governance.
Advancing legal, policy, and taxation reforms.
Expanding opportunities in digitalisation and innovation.
Building institutional capacity.
Enhancing partnerships among cooperatives, government ministries, private sector actors, and development partners.
According to UCA, the event will provide a platform for strategic dialogue and knowledge-sharing, aimed at mobilising investment and positioning cooperatives at the centre of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
Distinguished Speakers
The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, who will speak on economic transformation, governance, and poverty eradication. The event will also feature other notable speakers, government officials, development partners, and private sector leaders.
Given the significance of the issues at stake, the conference is expected to receive wide coverage across both local and international media.
Challenges Facing the Cooperative Movement
Despite its enormous contribution to national development, Uganda’s cooperative sector continues to grapple with multiple constraints. These include:
Limited access to affordable financing. Policy and regulatory bottlenecks.
Low adoption of digital tools.
Weak governance and management structures.
Taxation-related challenges.
Inadequate cooperative education and training.
These challenges have stifled growth and limited the sector’s ability to compete in an increasingly dynamic economy.
Repositioning Cooperatives for National Development
The National Cooperative Conference 2025 aims not only to celebrate the achievements of cooperatives but also to lay the foundation for a revitalised, resilient, and inclusive cooperative economy. By showcasing success stories and innovations from across the country, the event will highlight the transformative potential of cooperatives in driving community livelihoods, employment creation, and national prosperity.
For decades, the absence of a dedicated financial institution serving Uganda’s cooperative sector has been a major hindrance. The establishment of the National Cooperative Savings and Credit Society marks a decisive step towards addressing this gap and reasserting the cooperative movement as a vital engine of Uganda’s economic development.
