National Cooperative Conference 2025 set for this week

KAMPALA, September 15, 2025 – President Yoweri Museveni is expected to grace the National Cooperative Conference 2025, organised by the Uganda Cooperative Alliance [UCA].

The high-level event will take place on Thursday at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala. According to UCA General Secretary Ivan Asiimwe, the conference will be held under the theme: “Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Livelihoods through Cooperatives for a Better World.”

This landmark gathering is set to attract over 1,000 participants, including cooperators, government officials, development partners, financial institutions, private sector actors, media representatives, and members of academia.

One of the key highlights will be the launch of the National Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Limited by President Museveni. This institution is seen as a precursor to the much-anticipated National Cooperative Bank, envisioned to offer affordable, accessible, and member-driven financial services to unions, Area Cooperative Enterprises [ACEs], and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations [SACCOs]—including those under government programmes such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model [PDM].

Uganda’s first Cooperative Bank was closed in May 1999 by the Bank of Uganda [BoU] due to undercapitalisation and governance issues, resulting in the loss of deposited funds and other assets. The journey towards reviving a cooperative bank began in August 2023, when the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives [MTIC] established a steering committee comprising representatives from various cooperative bodies.

The conference will also focus on: Strengthening cooperative education and governance’ advancing legal, policy, and taxation reforms; and exploring opportunities for digitalisation, innovation, and capacity building.

Additionally, the event will provide a platform to foster stronger partnerships among cooperatives, government ministries, development partners, and the private sector.

A keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, Deputy Governor of the BoU, focusing on economic transformation, poverty eradication, and governance. Other notable speakers are also expected, and the event will receive wide media coverage.

The conference aims to deepen collaboration between cooperatives and strategic partners—including financial institutions, development agencies, and government actors—while mobilising investment for a resilient, inclusive, and people-driven cooperative economy.

Despite its significant contribution to Uganda’s national development, the cooperative sector continues to face several challenges. These include: Limited access to affordable financing; policy and regulatory gaps; low uptake of digital technologies; weak governance capacity; taxation-related constraints; and Inadequate cooperative education.

The National Cooperative Conference 2025 seeks to: Raise nationwide awareness about the cooperative movement and its transformative potential; showcase innovations and success stories from cooperatives across Uganda; and facilitate high-level dialogue on the reforms required to unlock the full potential of the sector.

For decades, the absence of a dedicated financial institution tailored to the unique needs of Ugandan cooperatives has constrained their growth and competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic economy. The upcoming launch of a new cooperative financial institution marks a major step towards addressing this gap and strengthening the sector’s role in national development.

https://thecooperator.news/moyo-cooperative-faces-setbacks-amid-hope-for-recovery/

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