GULU CITY, April 9, 2026 — Bouncers in Northern Uganda, under their umbrella body the Northern Uganda Bouncers Association [NUBA], have established a Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation [SACCO] in a bid to improve their livelihoods.
NUBA comprises mainly young people who provide security services at events such as music concerts, and parties, among others.
The SACCO, established in November 2025, currently has 250 members drawn from the association’s 1,400 registered members. Of these, 110 are from the Acholi sub-region, 80 from West Nile, and 60 from the Lango sub-region.
Michael Ojok Ismail, President of the association, said the SACCO was created to offer savings and loan services aimed at improving members’ financial stability, while also enabling the group to lobby for infrastructural support.
“We have already acquired three acres of land within the city, where we plan to build a gym and install various training equipment. We can only achieve this by making good use of our SACCO, both as members and as an association,” Ojok said.
He added that access to affordable loans would enable members to invest in personal ventures, directly benefiting their families and contributing to the national economy through taxes.
Ojok also noted that although bouncers are often perceived negatively and sometimes accused of involvement in criminal activities, the association is working to change this narrative by training members in discipline and professionalism.
Before establishing the SACCO, members underwent mindset change and financial literacy training in March last year, supported by Microfinance Support.
During a recent engagement, Joseph Karugaba, Officer in Charge of Gulu Central Police Station, cautioned members against engaging in criminal activities in pursuit of “quick cash”. Instead, he urged them to save and invest the income earned from their services.
Gulu City, where NUBA is headquartered, currently has two active groups of bouncers, including “Da Seal Team”, which also provides similar security services.
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