THE DEPUTY COMMANDER LAND FORCES COMMISSIONS A NEW WAZALENDO SACCO BRANCH IN MBARARA CITY

Friday 16th December 2022 

 

The Deputy Commander Land Forces (CLF) Maj Gen Francis Takirwa presided over the launch of Wazalendo SACCO’s 8th cash operating branch. The branch is located at Bananuka drive in Mbarara City. In his remarks at the launch, Gen Takirwa urged the members of WSACCO operating in western Uganda and general membership to save more, borrow and invest the borrowed money in carefully selected projects if they are to realize value from WSACCO. He also asked the members to mobilize their families to join WSACCO in order to grow the numbers. 

 

“Today we are celebrating 17 years of consistent efforts to address welfare. I applaud the UPDF leadership for the visionary thought of establishing Wazalendo SACCO as a vehicle for tackling welfare issues among the members of forces and their families. I encourage commanders at all levels to continue guiding the forces under their charge to buy more shares, increase their savings and build their capacity to effectively utilize the services offered by WSACCO. We need carders who can practically influence their juniors to save, have discipline and the patience required in order not to be trapped in vices like multiple borrowing, drinking, laziness among others”. Takirwa noted.

 

The deputy CLF called upon the people of Mbarara to welcome Wazalendo SACCO to the City and utilize it’s existence to learn and benchmark best practices in SACCO management, He emphasized discipline, patience and commitment as key success factors for all UPDF personnel.

 

Lt Col Allan Kitanda the Vice Chairman Board of Directors (BOD) who spoke on behalf of the BOD Chairman Gen Sam Kavuma, congratulated Management upon the achievement. He implored the branch team to take extra care while handling members’ issues.  

 

“Now that you are in the City centre, you have to deliver quality service using the best member care language so that the members have no reason to think about going to your competitor’s who must be keenly watching you.” Lt Col Kitanda emphasized.

 

Kitanda conveyed Gen Sam Kavuma’s appreciation to management team for the team work, initiative and creative thinking that has enabled WSACCO to open more cash operating branches . 

 

The Deputy RCC Mbarara City, Mr Ariho who represened the RCC Mbarara City, commended the good services that Wazalendo SACCO renders to its members and also thanked Gen Takirwa for the good working relationship he had with the city authorities while he served as 2 Infantry Division Commander. He asked Wazalendo to give chance to the members of public to join and enjoy the great services offered by WSACCO. He pledged total support to WSACCO to operate in the city. 

 

The vice Chairman of Supervisory committee (SUPCO), Maj Alex Kijuma who spoke on behalf of the Chairman SUPCO Col Justus Rukundo commended the BOD under Gen Sam Kavuma and management led by Col Joseph Freddy Onata for promoting convenient service delivery to the members which he said is evidence by expansion of cash operating branches. He pledged on behalf of SUPCO to continue supporting both BOD and Management to achieve the strategic objectives of WSACCO.

 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Col Joseph Freddy Onata thanked Gen Takirwa for sparing time to come and launch the branch and for being a great mobilizer for WSACCO. He asked Gen Takirwa to continue being the ambassador of WSACCO.  He reminded those present that initially the formation of wazalendo met a lot of resistance from UPDF personnel but the leadership never gave up. 

 

“Today we talk about the challenges that were met at the start such as mistrust and direct sabotage from other financial intermediaries only in the perspective of reminding ourselves about where we have come from. 

We have explained adequately why establishing WSACCO was necessary while the services that we deliver have touched their lives in different ways. As we open this branch I can assure the UPDF leadership that we have tested our capacity to swim in the deep waters and entered the deep waters ready to swim. With our multiple delivery channels available to members such as; OTC in both PBU and WSACCO’s now 8 cash operating branches and digital platforms such as ATMs, mobile money and mobile banking, we are ready to compete. We are also going to aggressively market our Business Savings Account and tap into savings from returns on investment of our members projects financed by our loans which are currently surprisingly being deposited by members into Commercial banks. We continue to study the possibility of allowing members of the public to join WSACCO and this is part of preparation towards partial opening of our common bond as a strategy to grow our membership”. The CEO stated. 

 

Col Onata cautioned the branch staff not to make the branch a white horse but utilize it to solve members problems, fill gaps in savings mobilization and enhance members’ satisfaction. 

 

Onata appreciated the UPDF leadership, BOD and SUPCO for the support rendered to management which has enabled them achieve remarkable milestones. He also applauded the management team for the team work, technical input which enabled management to register such achievements within the set timelines.

 

He commended the esteemed members of WSACCO for the confidence, trust and loyalty which he said are the key pillars on which WSACCO’s success stands. The CEO concluded by thanking partner banks for the support that has enabled WSACCO deliver qualify services to its members.

 

The Director of Operations Mr William Atalyeba outlined reasons for having the cash branch outside that barracks that included among others; bringing services closer to the members, Giving free access to regulators and members of the public and laying a foundation for the proposed opening of WSACCO’s services to the public. He assured the members that the branches that are opened outside the barracks are viable as far as disbursements are concerned because records from the 4 branches of Kampala, Entebbe, Moroto and Gulu indicate that loan processing transactions have more than doubled while deposits have also increased. 

 

“I thank the BOD for the strategic guidance and the CEO steering us in management well. I also thank the construction team for the beautiful work delivered and ask the staff to continue growing the numbers because it’s from the numbers that savings and profitable business is derived. I note that Mbarara branch is something special because members have already shown interest in enjoying the service at the new branch even before it’s commissioning. We are encouraged by their response”. said Mr Atalyeba . 

 

By Charity N Namanya

PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER – WSACCO