Coop360° Innovations Award Winners Embark on Learning Tour to Kalangala
During the trip, the cooperative members will visit Sese Oil Palm Cooperative Society Limited to exchange knowledge with fellow cooperators and explore opportunities in agro-processing and agro-tourism
KAMPALA, March 12, 2026 – The Uhuru Institute for Social Development [TUI], together with its partners, has flagged off Gomi Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, winners of the second edition of the Coop360° Innovations Award, on a fully sponsored learning excursion to Kalangala district.
During the trip, the cooperative members will visit Sese Oil Palm Cooperative Society Limited to exchange knowledge with fellow cooperators and explore opportunities in agro-processing and agro-tourism. They will also experience the tourism attractions of the island district.
The flag-off ceremony and press conference were held on Thursday at the Uganda National Cultural Centre in Kampala, attracting other cooperative stakeholders and media from across Uganda.
Gomi Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society, based in Lira district, cultivates maize, beans and other crops. The cooperative won the award for developing an innovative organic fertiliser and pesticide designed to promote agroecology while improving farmers’ access to better markets.
The excursion complements the Shs 20 million cash prize and three months of Business Development Services [BDS] that the cooperative received during the grand finale of the second edition of the Coop360° Innovations Award held on November 20, 2025, at Speke Resort Munyonyo during the Africa Industrialisation Week celebrations. The event was held under the theme “Cultivate, Invent, Impact.”
Beyond celebrating the cooperative’s achievement, the learning trip will provide members with an opportunity to exchange ideas with other cooperatives, explore agro-tourism as a potential enterprise and promote domestic tourism. The initiative also reflects one of the seven core cooperative principles—cooperation among cooperatives.
Mengya Integrated Farmers’ Cooperative [MIFCO] from Kween district in the Sebei Subregion were the first beneficiaries of the programme, enjoying a fully sponsored tour of Murchison Falls National Park after emerging winners in the 2024 edition of the competition.
The 2025 Coop360° Innovations Award was curated by TUI and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, the African Union, Bank of Uganda, Stanbic Bank, Busara, Goldstone Consulting Enterprise and Training Company, theCooperator Media and Coop Profiler.
The programme aims to strengthen the business competitiveness of cooperatives by recognising and promoting innovations that improve the livelihoods of members and communities. It emphasises the application of science and technology, climate-smart approaches, stronger enterprise systems and enhanced financial inclusion.
Jane Amuge Okello, Operations Director at TUI, commended Gomi Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society for its achievement. She revealed that when the innovations programme was launched, there were initial concerns about whether many cooperatives would present strong innovations.
She encouraged the cooperative to commercialise its products through patenting and to look beyond Uganda to Africa and the rest of the world as it continues to innovate. There is more for you to do,” she said.
She also thanked TUI’s partners for their support and commitment to the Coop360° Innovations Award.
Amuge further announced that the call for applications for the next edition of the competition will open in the last week of April 2026, with the grand finale expected to take place in November.
On his part, Brian Jjemba, Chief Executive Officer of Goldstone Consulting Enterprise and Training Company, praised Gomi Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society for developing the organic fertiliser and pesticide, noting that the product has the potential to be marketed internationally.
He explained that the Coop360° Innovations Award seeks to encourage cooperatives in Uganda to become more innovative and develop solutions to community challenges.
Jjemba added that the learning trip to Kalangala could inspire the cooperative to develop additional business ideas.
Christopher Mede, General Manager of Gomi Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society, expressed appreciation to TUI for recognising the role of cooperatives in national development.
“This award was truly deserved. We thank the Uhuru Institute for recognising cooperatives across the country. We hope this initiative continues to grow and support even more cooperatives,” Mede said.
About TUI
Founded on social business ideals, The Uhuru Institute for Social Development works in collaboration with cooperatives, government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, private initiatives and non-profit organisations.
The institute supports communities, particularly women and youth organised in cooperatives, farmer groups and other business associations, to harness their full potential. Its work focuses on mobilising different forms of capital, strengthening enterprise systems, improving access to affordable finance and markets, and enabling communities to participate fully in decision-making processes while building household wealth and wellbeing in a just socio-economic environment.
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