Abim leaders call for support of local cooperatives
ABIM, April 11, 2025 – Leaders in Abim district are calling on development partners and other stakeholders in Uganda to support Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations [SACCOs] in the district, noting that many of these financial intermediaries are struggling to sustain themselves.
Speaking at the recent handover ceremony of a storage facility to Abim West Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited in Orwamuge Town Council, Otuke district, officials highlighted that while the district has SACCOs in all 16 sub-counties, they lack adequate support and guidance, and therefore risk collapsing.
John Ekong, the Resident District Commissioner of Abim, stressed the need for financial assistance to revitalise the struggling cooperatives. “There are cooperatives that are barely staying afloat, and I want to take this opportunity to appeal for your support. We need to find ways to strengthen these cooperatives so they do not collapse,” Ekong said during the commissioning of the agricultural bulking facility by State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Peter Aimat Lokeris. The facility, valued at Shs 1.9 billion, was constructed with funding from the Government of Japan.
Further, Ekong also urged communities to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices such as irrigation to improve agricultural production and their livelihoods.
Jimmy Owiny Opio, the Abim District Commercial Officer, thanked the Sasakawa Africa Association [SAA] for helping in the building of the bulking centre and encouraged the organisation to extend similar support to other areas within the Karamoja sub-region.
According to SAA’s Country Director, Robert Anyang, the new facility is expected to support 50,000 smallholder farmers by equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and services needed to enhance productivity, profitability, and food security.
Anyang noted that the facility in Abim is part of a broader initiative, with 18 similar hubs established across the country through financial backing from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Lokeris, commended Abim Farmers’ Cooperative Society for embracing the project and praised development partners for their critical role in the intervention.
“This is a holistic project, from the garden to post-harvest handling, everything is included. Even if there’s no rain, there’s an irrigation system in place,” he said.
Lokeris emphasised that the project is expected to reduce poverty and improve food security in the Karamoja region, particularly helping the people of Abim district become more productive.
https://thecooperator.news/abim-otuke-districts-receive-shs-1-9bln-agro-investment-hubs/
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