Batwa cooperative gains momentum after transformative Uhuru training
KANUNGU, March 24, 2026 — The Reformed Poachers and Batwa Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited [REPABFCOS] has recorded a notable increase in its financial base, with share capital rising from Shs 27 million to Shs 37 million within a year.
The growth was highlighted during the cooperative’s sixth Annual General Meeting [AGM], held last Saturday at St Paul’s Buhoma Church of Uganda in Kanungu district. The cooperative, which supports marginalised Batwa communities and reformed poachers living near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, is increasingly being recognised as a viable alternative to illegal poaching.
Uhuru training a turning point
Board chairman Joab Kwesiga attributed the progress to specialised training received in 2024 through the Coop360 Network, a unit of The Uhuru Institute for Social Development [TUI], a social business enterprise that supports cooperative development in Uganda and beyond.
Kwesiga said the training helped shift members’ perceptions of the cooperative from a charity model to a business-oriented institution.
“Initially, we operated like an NGO. Members thought joining was enough to start benefiting immediately; they did not realise they needed to contribute and work towards the cooperative’s growth,” he said. “After the Uhuru training, members understood they are both the customers and the capital contributors. They now know the cooperative stands or falls on their efforts.”
Membership has since expanded from five groups at inception to 72 active Village Savings and Loan Associations [VSLAs], bringing together more than 2,264 participants.
Kwesiga urged members to increase their share capital in order to fully benefit from the cooperative, emphasising the need to move towards financial sustainability.
“We are looking at increasing our share capital, and that must be driven by shareholders,” he said.
While the board is considering declaring dividends, Kwesiga encouraged members to reinvest them rather than seek immediate payouts.
“I would rather see members reinvesting dividends into their share capital. We must first strengthen our liquidity and equity before distributing significant profits,” he added.
He noted that reinvesting dividends would benefit both the cooperative and individual members by boosting capital and enabling more lending.
Transforming livelihoods
Through the provision of seeds and financial literacy training, REPABFCOS has supported the Batwa community’s transition into more stable agricultural livelihoods.
“Our members have embraced farming. We provide seeds and training to ensure they are financially empowered and self-reliant,” Kwesiga said.
He added that leadership training had also improved governance within the cooperative, with members now applying established cooperative principles.
However, challenges remain, including climate change, fluctuating cereal prices and the risk of over-indebtedness among members.
“We deal in beans, maize and groundnuts, but unpredictable weather—especially heavy rains—has affected yields,” he said. “We also face challenges with manual record-keeping and need digital tools such as the Coop Profiler to manage data effectively.”
A member of the cooperative explained to this reporter how it has transformed his household that was initially engaged in poaching to earn a living.
“Initially, we were involved in poaching, which was illegal. Sometimes we would be chased by game rangers and we would get accidents while running. However, when I joined this cooperative, I was supported to get seeds for planting, and the cooperative helps to sell the produce at good prices. The money I get supports my family’s basic needs like school fees, healthcare, clothes, among others,” he said.
Call for government support
Kwesiga called on government to improve infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas, noting that poor road conditions hinder the transportation of produce.
“Tarmacking the Kanungu–Bwindi Road would benefit both farmers and the tourism sector, as it is used by visitors travelling to see mountain gorillas,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the regulatory environment for cooperatives, calling for a streamlined framework.
“There is confusion over regulatory oversight. A single regulator would help emerging cooperatives understand their mandate and operate more effectively,” he added.
Future plans
Looking ahead, REPABFCOS plans to construct its own office premises, establish a maize milling facility for value addition, and explore micro-insurance and agricultural input shops.
Leonard Okello, Chief Executive Officer of TUI, commended the cooperative’s innovation and encouraged members to continue reinvesting dividends.
“All successful SACCOs build their foundation by reinvesting dividends into share capital. That is how growth is sustained,” he said.
He also urged the board to diversify beyond cereals and lending, and to explore additional business opportunities, including input supply and digital solutions.
Background
Registered in 2019, REPABFCOS emerged from the Community Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation [CIBIC]. Its mission is to bridge the financial gap for marginalised communities historically excluded from formal banking.
The cooperative serves reformed poachers, Batwa communities and residents living around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park—groups long affected by economic and social exclusion. Today, it brings together 72 active VSLAs and more than 2,264 members, reflecting its growing role in transforming livelihoods and building resilient communities.
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