KABALE, September 18, 2026 — Nyabyumba Farmers’ SACCO has opened a new branch in Katuna Town Council, Kabale district, bringing savings, credit and other financial services closer to farmers, traders and small-scale entrepreneurs in the area that borders Rwanda.
The Katuna branch, located at Kyonyo Trading Centre, becomes the fifth outlet of Nyabyumba Farmers SACCO, following its headquarters in Nyabyumba and branches in Habuhasha, Harutinda and Kabale Town.
The expansion is expected to ease access to financial services for residents of Katuna and neighbouring communities, who have previously had to travel long distances to Nyabyumba or Kabale town to access SACCO services.
Speaking during the grand opening ceremony, Nyabyumba Farmers’ SACCO General Manager Ambrose Akankwasa called for joint efforts by the Government, non-governmental organisations and development partners to address what he described as growing food insecurity and a cash-flow crisis affecting households in Kabale and the wider Kigezi Sub-region.
Akankwasa attributed part of the challenge to disruptions to agricultural and dairy activities in wetlands following increased government enforcement against cultivation and other activities in protected wetland areas.
He said that although wetland conservation is important, communities that previously depended on wetlands for farming and other economic activities need alternative sources of livelihood if they are to cope with the restrictions.
Akankwasa urged the Government and development partners to combine environmental conservation measures with practical livelihood programmes to help affected communities transition to sustainable economic activities.
He called for increased investment in vocational skills training, climate-smart upland farming technologies, agricultural value addition and affordable credit facilities to help households diversify their sources of income.
According to Akankwasa, supporting communities to adopt alternative livelihoods would not only reduce pressure on wetlands but also enable households to continue generating income and producing food.
He said the financial sector, including SACCOs, has a role to play in supporting farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs with affordable credit and other services to enable them to invest in productive activities.
Government has intensified efforts to restore degraded wetlands and restrict agricultural activities in protected wetland areas, while encouraging communities to adopt alternative farming practices on suitable upland areas.
Akankwasa said such interventions should be accompanied by deliberate measures to help communities adjust to the new environmental requirements, noting that conservation and household livelihoods need to be addressed together.
Residents who attended the opening welcomed the new SACCO branch, saying it would reduce the financial burden associated with travelling to distant branches.
Among them was Jackson Ndabwine Jackson, who said residents previously spent between Shs15,000 and Shs20,000 on transport when travelling to the main Nyabyumba branch or Kabale Town to access basic financial services.
Dickson Nkwasibwe also welcomed the development, saying the presence of the SACCO in Katuna would make it easier for residents to save, access credit and invest in income-generating activities without travelling long distances.
The residents expressed optimism that improved access to financial services would stimulate economic activity in Katuna and surrounding areas, particularly by supporting farmers, traders and small-scale businesses.
Established in 2004, Nyabyumba Farmers’ SACCO started as a Farmer Field School before transforming into a Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation serving farmers and communities across the Kigezi region.
The opening of the Katuna branch marks another stage in the institution’s expansion, with the SACCO seeking to bring financial services closer to communities while creating opportunities for farmers, traders and entrepreneurs to access credit and invest in alternative sources of income.
https://thecooperator.news/western-region-sacco-leaders-set-to-meet-in-kabale-for-annual-convention/
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