UCA, Agriterra train Kapchorwa farmers in financial literacy under FORT Project

KAPCHORWA, August 26, 2026 — The Uganda Cooperative Alliance [UCA] and Agriterra, under the Farmer Organisations for Rural Transformation [FORT] Project, have trained members of Sirimityo Growers and Poultry Keeping Group in financial literacy, equipping them with knowledge about savings, loans, insurance and record-keeping.

The training, held on Tuesday in Kapwitable Village, Sirimityo Parish, Kaserem Subcounty, Kapchorwa district, brought together members of the farmers’ and poultry-keeping group as part of efforts to strengthen their financial management skills and improve the sustainability of their agricultural enterprises.

Wagagai Coffee Farmers’ SACCO, which is also based in Kapchorwa district, facilitated the training, with its officers encouraging members to make informed decisions when using financial services.

Speaking during the training, Shalmin Chemonges, a Credit Officer at Wagagai Coffee Farmers’ SACCO, urged members to develop a strong culture of saving and use loans responsibly.

“Saving is important because it helps us prepare for emergencies and future investments. When you take a loan, you should make sure that you use it for a productive activity that can generate income and enable you to repay,” Chemonges told the members.

She also advised farmers to understand loan conditions before borrowing, including the repayment period, interest rates and other requirements.

Chemonges encouraged members to start with manageable savings and gradually build their financial capacity instead of depending entirely on borrowing.

Yasin Chemonges, who trained the members on insurance, focused on crop and livestock insurance and the risks farmers face from drought and excessive rainfall.

He told the farmers that agricultural production involves risks and that insurance can help protect their investments when unexpected losses occur.

“Farmers invest a lot of money and effort in their crops and livestock. When drought, excessive rainfall or other risks occur, the farmer can suffer a big loss. Insurance is one way of protecting that investment,” Yasin said.

He encouraged members to learn about insurance products available to farmers and choose covers that match the risks affecting their agricultural activities.

Yasin also urged farmers to change their perception of insurance and consider it part of responsible farm planning.

Another facilitator, Dafala Musobo, trained members on record-keeping, emphasising the importance of maintaining accurate records of their agricultural and financial activities.

Musobo said farmers need to record their income, expenditure, production, sales, savings and loans if they want to determine whether their enterprises are performing well.

“If you do not keep records, it is difficult to know whether your farming business is making a profit or a loss,” Musobo said.

He encouraged members to make record-keeping a regular practice rather than waiting until they need information about their businesses.

Dafala said proper records can also help farmers identify unnecessary expenditure, plan future investments and provide evidence of their financial performance when seeking financial services.

The UCA Regional Coordinator and Project Coordinator for the FORT Project in the Elgon region, Timothy Bisagati, said the training is part of a five-year project aimed at empowering farmers and strengthening producer organisations across the region.

He said the FORT Project is being implemented in Kapchorwa, Manafwa, Mbale and Namisindwa districts, while Sironko and Bukwo are expected to be enrolled soon.

“The FORT Project is a five-year project that is being implemented in the Elgon region to empower farmer organisations and strengthen their capacity to improve the livelihoods of their members,” Bisagati said.

He explained that the project targets 60 producer cooperatives, 60 SACCOs and 180 farmer groups across the Elgon region of eastern Uganda, which borders Kenya.

“So far, we have enrolled 10 farmer groups in Kapchorwa District, and Sirimityo is among the groups that are benefiting from this programme,” the coordinator said.

Timothy added that financial literacy is important because farmers need more than agricultural production skills to succeed.

“Farmers need to know how to save, how to access and use loans, how to protect their investments through insurance and how to keep records. These skills can help them manage their enterprises better,” he said.

The Chairperson of Sirimityo Growers and Poultry Keeping Group, Rosemary Chelangat, who officially opened the meeting, welcomed the facilitators and members and appreciated the programme for bringing financial education closer to the community.

“We are grateful for this training because it has given our members knowledge that we need in our farming and poultry activities. We shall encourage members to put what they have learnt into practice,” she said.

Chelangat also encouraged members to continue working together as a group and take advantage of financial services and opportunities available through SACCOs and other development programmes.

Kapwitable Village Chairman Isaac Mangusho commended UCA, Agriterra, the FORT Project and Wagagai Coffee Farmers’ SACCO for conducting the training in the village.

“Financial literacy is very important to our farmers because many people are involved in agriculture but do not keep records or understand how to manage the money they earn from their farms,” Mangusho said.

He urged members to take the lessons seriously and use the knowledge to improve their households and agricultural businesses.

“I encourage our farmers to save, to borrow responsibly and to keep proper records. If you do this, you will be able to understand your businesses and make better decisions,” Mangusho added.

The village chairman further called on members to maintain unity and use their farmer group as a platform for accessing financial services, training and other opportunities.

The meeting concluded with closing remarks from local leaders of Kapwitable Village, Sirimityo Parish and Kaserem Subcounty, who commended the organisers for extending the programme to grassroots farmers.

The leaders encouraged the beneficiaries to translate the lessons into practical action, particularly by saving consistently, using loans for productive purposes, insuring their agricultural investments and maintaining proper records.

The financial literacy training is expected to strengthen the capacity of Sirimityo Growers and Poultry Keeping Group and contribute to the wider FORT Project goal of building stronger and more financially resilient farmer organisations across the Elgon region.

https://thecooperator.news/uca-agriterra-equip-kapchorwa-farmers-with-lobbying-and-advocacy-skills/

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