KAMPALA, April 19, 2024 – Mengya Integrated Farmers’ Cooperative [MIFCO] from Kween district in Sebei Sub-region will take a weekend on a fully-sponsored tour of the Murchison National Park to witness the beauty and learn the potential of tourism as a business that the cooperative can tap into.
The holiday is one of the prizes from the Coop360°Innovations Award after the cooperative engaged in agriculture emerged overall winners of the prestigious initiative curated by the Uhuru Institute for Social Development [TUI] in partnership with the Bank of Uganda, Goldstone Consulting, Liberty Insurance, theCooperator Magazine, NTV Uganda, and the Nairobi-based Busara Centre for Behavioural Economics.
The award, whose grand finale took place at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on March 20, 2024, aims to celebrate cooperative enterprises in Uganda with outstanding innovations designed to improve members’ welfare, improve business efficiency, and accelerate sustainable development.
The flagging-off ceremony was held today at the Uganda National Cultural Centre in Kampala, led by TUI CEO, Leonard Okello. Representatives from Goldstone Consulting, Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA], and other tourism stakeholders attended the event covered by the local media.
“At TUI, we are deeply committed to improving the business competitiveness of cooperatives, interconnectivity, and cooperative identity for sustainable socioeconomic transformation. We also look forward to using such opportunities to promote an equitable, prosperous, peaceful and happy society for all development. This initiative not only recognises the outstanding innovation and resilience of cooperative enterprises but also highlights the transformative impact they have on society,” Okello said.
On his part, Moses Kiptala, Chairman of MIFCO said: “As we continue to enhance the value of our irish potatoes, this recognition presents a significant opportunity for us. We envision leveraging tourism centres to showcase our unique agricultural offerings, tapping into the vast market potential of the processed Irish potatoes, understanding the uniqueness of our region’s natural wonders, like falls, and our ambition to evolve into an agritourism destination. The award inspires us to innovate our agricultural practices.”
MIFCO which also won Shs 20 million in prize money, and as well as mentorship and coaching for three months, beat closest rivals, Bushika Integrated Area Cooperative Enterprise Limited [BIACE] located in Bududa district, and Kibinge Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited in Masaka district, in the grand finale telecast live on NTV Uganda, and attended by representatives from government, private sector, media, and the cooperative sector among others.
About Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest and most exciting game park. Located in the central west of the country, it lies within the East African Rift, and shares a border with Lake Albert.
The Victoria Nile flows through the middle of the park and empties into Lake Albert, creating a delta. En route the river hurtles over Murchison Falls creating the greatest natural water force on Earth!
Not only does Murchison Falls National Park encompass a variety of beautiful landscapes, it’s also home to an abundance of wildlife. There are various large mammals to be sighted such as lions, elephants, giraffes and leopards. The park also boasts iconic birds, like the grey crowned crane and shoebill. Very welcoming of tourists, visitors to the park can enjoy game drives, boat safaris, and a waterfall hike.
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