Kole coop expands market across the EAC
According to Emmanuel Obedigum, the cooperative’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the cooperative society has traditionally relied on grain buyers from Lira City
KOLE, June 15, 2025 –– Alito Joint Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, based in Kole district, is gaining regional recognition, extending its quality seed market beyond the Lango, Acholi, and Karamoja sub-regions to include buyers from across the East African Community [EAC].
According to Emmanuel Obedigum, the cooperative’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the cooperative society has traditionally relied on grain buyers from Lira City. However, demand has recently expanded to include farmers from Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
“Two farmers from Kenya purchased 200 kilogrammes of seed, while a Rwandan buyer took 500 kilogrammes of soybean seed for planting,” said Obedigum during an interview on Wednesday.
“From the 700 kilogrammes delivered to Kenya and Rwanda, the cooperative earned Shs 4.2 million.”
Obedigum attributed this growth to a strategic partnership with the Integrated Seed Sector Development [ISSD], a non-governmental organisation that promotes quality seed production. The collaboration has increased the cooperative’s visibility across Africa.
“Even farmers from Malawi and Somalia have visited us to learn about the processes involved in the local seed business,” he noted, speaking from Awilo village, Okwerodot Sub-county in Kole district.
Established in 1998 with just five members, Alito Cooperative now boasts a membership of 16,815 farmers spread across Northern Uganda. Its initial focus was on multiplying seed for sunflowers and beans, but the scope has since widened significantly.
John Christopher Okwang, Chairperson of the cooperative, explained that a turning point came in 2004, when the Uganda Oil Seed Producers Association [UOSPA] trained members in produce bulking and marketing—prompting many more farmers to join.
The cooperative now operates two storage facilities with a combined capacity of 160 metric tonnes, though demand has outgrown the available space due to the large volume of produce delivered.
Okwang added that the cooperative has established 309 farmer groups across the Lango, Acholi, and Karamoja sub-regions, and currently operates 16 bulking centres to streamline operations.
Molly Akullo, a member of the cooperative, credited it with transforming her farming practices.
“I used to rely on traditional methods, but through the cooperative, I’ve received training in land preparation, agronomy, and how to access quality soybean seed,” she said.
She added that she has since abandoned other crops like maize and beans to concentrate on soybean production, which has enabled her to pay school fees and improve her household income.
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