Women encouraged to lead SACCO movement

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Wazalendo Savings and Credit Co-operative Society (WSACCO), in collaboration with the Uganda Co-operative Savings and Credit Union (UCSCU), has urged women to take up leadership roles within the cooperative movement, positioning themselves as key contributors to Uganda’s development goals.

The call was made during a week-long Women’s Mentorship Programme organised by UCSCU, which convened female leaders from SACCOs nationwide. The initiative, according to a statement issued at the end of last month, focused on building leadership capacity, promoting peer learning, and showcasing successful models such as WSACCO.

Supported by the Canadian Development Foundation (CDF), Uganda’s edition of the mentorship programme aims to foster financial inclusion through the empowerment of women in the cooperative sector.

During a benchmarking visit to WSACCO headquarters, Brig. Gen. Joseph Freddy Onata, the chief executive officer of WSACCO and a senior officer in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), commended CDF and UCSCU for advancing women’s leadership. "WSACCO sponsors five women annually for this training. This year, we’ve hosted 12 SACCOs at our head office to share our experiences and success factors,” said Brig Gen Onata. “We believe that leveraging the potential of women is critical to building progressive and sustainable cooperatives.”

He encouraged SACCOs to adopt technology, uphold good governance, embrace inclusivity, strengthen data management, and prioritise continuous training to secure long-term growth.

Women during the mentorship programme. (Courtesy)

During the visit, WSACCO recognised Ms Amgbua Gloria, the sole participant from Northern Uganda in the 2025 cohort, by awarding her a full sponsorship for Advanced Development Educator training through the African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA). “This support is meant to empower her to return to her region and become a catalyst for SACCO growth and advocacy,” Brig Gen Onata added.

Rita Namyalo, representing UCSCU, expressed gratitude to WSACCO for its commitment to knowledge-sharing and pledged ongoing collaboration to uplift women in the cooperative space.

CDF’s Uganda Women’s Mentorship Programme Coordinator, Ms Mercy Tumukunde, praised WSACCO’s dedication to supporting women’s development. “The objective of this training is to build skills and confidence among women, enabling them to become equal contributors within cooperatives and their communities,” Ms Tumukunde said, adding thanks to WSACCO for committing to sponsor a participant from Cohort 4 for the Africa Development Educator (ADE) programme.

Participants taking a group after the mentorship program. (Courtesy)

Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Ms Amgbua Gloria thanked WSACCO for the opportunity and encouraged fellow participants to continue supporting one another to maximise the mentorship experience.

The event also featured WSACCO Directors and Department Heads, who shared valuable insights across various aspects of cooperative management.