Rubirizi’s KYAPS Rewards 45 members with cows and goats in Christmas appreciation
RUBIRIZI, December 25, 2025 – Kyamuhunga People’s SACCO [KYAPS] has rewarded its most loyal members with livestock and household items as part of a Christmas-season corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at appreciating commitment to saving and investment.
The ceremony, held on Christmas Eve at the SACCO’s Katerera branch offices, saw more than 45 members receive gifts including cows, goats, mattresses and assorted packages.
The initiative was intended to recognise members’ consistency in saving, their contribution to the growth of the SACCO, and to enhance the festive celebrations of local families.
Speaking at the event, Rodgers Niwabine, the Branch Manager of KYAPS Katerera, said the gesture was a way of giving back to the community that has been instrumental in the SACCO’s success.
“Beyond these gifts, our key message is an invitation to the entire community to embrace a strong savings culture,” Niwabine said. “This is a proven pathway to transforming household incomes, educating our children and decisively fighting poverty. KYAPS is here as a partner in that journey.”
The event also served as a platform to encourage long-term investment and financial discipline. Mary Ninsiima Dansira, a member of the KYAPS Board, urged beneficiaries to sustain their saving habits for lasting development.
“Maintain a strong savings culture for sustainable development,” Dansira advised. She also reminded members that share capital remains a critical investment for the institution, commending them for a recent campaign that has significantly strengthened the SACCO’s capital base.
According to Dansira, KYAPS has grown into a regional role model, with its share capital now reaching the 50-billion-shilling mark.
Among the top beneficiaries was Robert Dembe Jose, the Head Teacher of Kicwamba High School, who received a cow. He described the gift as a powerful incentive to continue saving.
“This gift motivates us to save even more,” Jose said, urging other community members to join the SACCO to improve their economic prospects.
KYAPS General Manager John Bosco Atwijukire appealed to members to increase their savings in order to strengthen the SACCO’s liquidity and expand its lending capacity.
“I encourage members to make focal savings or fixed deposits so that they can earn more from the SACCO,” Atwijukire said.
“Our loan products range from Shs 50,000 to Shs 50 million, meaning every member can be served. Those who need loans should come forward, but timely repayment is key. If challenges arise, do not disappear—come to us and we shall work out a manageable repayment plan instead of defaulting.”
A legacy of growth
Founded in 1998 as a small company with just 15 members and capital of three million shillings, KYAPS has grown into a major force within Uganda’s cooperative movement. After transitioning into a cooperative society in 2004, membership expanded rapidly and now stands at over 52,600 members.
Today, the SACCO boasts a loan portfolio of Shs 39.39 billion and total savings amounting to Shs 13.77 billion. With a staff strength of 120 and cumulative loan disbursements exceeding Shs 275 billion, KYAPS continues to play a central role in driving socio-economic empowerment across the region.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
