During their five-day exchange visit to the Tooro region, Central Region Sacco leaders have commended their counterparts in Tooro for the unity in managing their Saccos.
After visiting various Saccos in Kabarokore and Kamwenge districts, sacco leaders from the Central Region praised the teamwork observed between sacco leaders and local government officials in the region.
Godfrey Kintu, the chairperson of the Buikwe South Constituency Produce Dealers Sacco in Buikwe District, was impressed by the unity he observed among Sacco leaders, technical experts, and local leaders.
"What amazed me is the strong unity within the Saccos in the Tooro region, where cooperative members, leaders, and technical personnel such as commercial officers, RDCs, and CDOs work together harmoniously which is not the case with our region," Kintu said.
Kintu also praised them for their respect towards their leaders, noting that, based on feedback from Sacco members, it is clear they have heeded the guidance their leaders provided about Emyooga from the start.
"In this region, people hold their leaders in high regard, everyone you speak to will mention how their local and Sacco leaders educated them about Emyooga, and they listened. This has significantly contributed to their rapid growth."
He also expressed his gratitude to the Sacco leaders in Tooro for fostering a savings culture among their members, which has contributed to their growth.
He hailed Microfinance Support Centre for providing the opportunity to conduct such visits and pledged to adopt these practices and instill them in his own Sacco members to promote similar growth in his region.
"I have observed that saving is deeply ingrained here, people have adopted a savings culture, which has significantly contributed to their growth. When I return home, I will prioritize instilling the same culture among my members. I am confident that, in a few years, our Sacco will become the best performing in Buikwe and the Central Region."
Teddy Nanyombi, the chairperson of the Mawokota South Restaurant Owners’ Sacco, praised the commitment of Sacco members in Tooro, particularly the women.
She noted that women in this region use Emyooga funds effectively, leading to significant transformation.
"One thing I have learned here is the strong commitment of the people, especially the women. When they decide to do something, they follow through. For example, some women received shs200,000 and used it effectively to transform their lives. But in our region, people often request large sums, like shs3 million, without a clear plan for using the money. Here, people truly understand the value of seed capital." She said.
Loy Namara Batuuze, the Deputy RDC of Kamwenge District, urged Central Region Sacco leaders to embrace a culture of teamwork, emphasizing that success is more attainable when working collaboratively.
"In Kamwenge Sacco leaders have succeeded because they understood the fruits of working as a team. I implore Sacco leaders to work hand in hand with their members, leaders and Commercial officers, this will help you to succeed." She said.
She also encouraged them to prioritize saving, emphasizing that Saccos cannot grow if their members do not save.
"We encouraged Sacco members here to save, and they listened, which has contributed to our success. You should do the same, leaders emphasize to your members the importance of saving, as this will help your Saccos thrive."
Namara praised President Museveni and the Microfinance Support Centre for spearheading this program, stating that it has significantly transformed people's lives, particularly for women.
Central Region Emyooga Sacco leaders are on a five-day exchange visit to high-performing Saccos in the Tooro region to learn and understand how to enhance their own Saccos.