On 18th September 2025, the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) hosted the National Cooperative Conference at UMA Grounds, Lugogo. Hon. Francis Mwebesa, Minister for Trade Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC), launched the National Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Limited (NCSCSL), representing the President of Uganda. This is the first step toward Uganda’s long-awaited National Cooperative Bank.

In the President’s speech, read by Hon. Francis Mwebesa, He emphasized that peace and security have laid the foundation for economic recovery, enabling a shift toward wealth creation in agriculture, industry, services, and ICT. He highlighted Pan-Africanism as key to expanding beyond Uganda’s internal market, tapping into a collective market of 1.4 billion people. He also commended the growth of cooperatives from 5,000 to 46,000 societies and reaffirmed government’s commitment to an enabling environment.

State Minister for Cooperatives, Hon. Gume Fredrick Ngobi, called on the new institution to deliver cost-effective services, reduce bureaucracy, and prioritize members’ needs.

Keynote speaker Dr. Fred Muhumuza stressed that the Cooperative Bank must be more than a lender: it should provide knowledge, skills, and tailored products that track and improve members’ livelihoods, foster resilience, and build partnerships in health, education, and transport.

Uganda’s cooperative journey stretches back over a century, with the first society registered in 1913 to give smallholder farmers a collective voice. By the 1960s, cooperatives were powering rural economies through coffee and cotton exports, boosting household incomes. Yet, political turbulence, mismanagement, and the collapse of the Cooperative Bank in the 1990s nearly crippled the sector.

Why this matters:
Uganda’s 21,000+ cooperatives remain the backbone of jobs, incomes, and social inclusion. The launch of NCSCSL is designed to close financing gaps and provide a roadmap toward a fully licensed National Cooperative Bank.

Key milestones:
2025–2028: NCSCSL (Tier 4), target UGX 10B
2028–2032: MDI (Tier 3), target UGX 25B
2032–2037: Credit Institution (Tier 2), UGX 25–50B
2037+: Full Cooperative Bank (Tier 1), UGX 150B

Already, UGX 86.5M has been pledged, with UCA contributing UGX 10M. Membership is open to all registered primary and tertiary cooperatives.

This launch is not just financial — it is a legacy of self-reliance, solidarity, and empowerment for all Ugandans.