Cooperative societies in Lira Main Market to form union

LIRA – A process is ongoing to transform a total of 14 primary cooperative societies in Lira Main Market into a union that should better enhance production and productivity, collective marketing, value addition, and tackle poverty among the members.

According to the chairman of Lira Main Market, Basil Edwoko, some of the primary cooperative societies that will form the union include; Lira Smoked and Silver Fish Vendors Cooperative Society Limited, Lira Main Market Shoe Vendors Cooperative Society Limited, and Fresh Fish Vendors Cooperative Society Limited.

Others are; Butcheries Cooperative Society Limited, Freeh Foods Vendors Cooperative Society Limited, Craft Vendors Cooperative Society Limited, and Vegetables and Fruits Vendors Cooperative Society Limited.

Currently, all the cooperative societies fall under the umbrella of Lira Central Market Traders Cooperative Society Limited which was established in 2016 but now intends to register as Lira Main Market Cooperative Union.

Edwoko says if established, the union will help members gain more revenue as it will embark on different income generating activities, including marketing and value addition.

“We want to take full management of all departments in the market so that we get more revenue for the benefit of all sectors. Some of the activities have been subcontracted to outsiders which limited us from getting better revenue,” said Edwoko.

Edwoko further added that the market dues allocation will be guided by the rules and regulations of the union so that all the sectors get equal shares from the revenue collected.

“This will make us united because all sectors will participate in the management of the market, especially in generating market dues since we shall be guided by rules,” Edwoko added.

The chairperson of the Smoked and Silver Fish Vendors Cooperative Society Limited, Macdonald Obua said that the formation of these union would help members access soft loans for production.

“The union will be responsible for giving us affordable loans. If registered, Lira Main Market Traders Union will benefit us accordingly,” Obua said.

Richard Okello, the Lira City commercial officer, welcomed the traders’ decision to register the union, saying it is overdue since they have operated under an umbrella body for so long.

“They are free to do that [registering a union], they have been in an umbrella body for a long time. Registering a union is the process that needs to be undertaken,” Okello added.

https://thecooperator.news/lira-market-vendors-protest-delayed-relocation-of-street-vendors/

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