WSACCO PRINCIPAL STAFF OFFICERS CHALLENGED TO PROMOTE IDEOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS TO PROTECT WAZALENDO SACCO
23rd November 23
Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (WSACCO) Principal Staff Officers ( PSOs) have been challenged to promote ideological consciousness to protect the interests of Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (WSACCO)and its members .
The remarks were made by the Deputy Chief of Political Commissariat (CPC) Col Nelson Ahebwa while making a presentation on behalf of the CPC Maj Gen Henry Masiko during a one day workshop held at WSACCO Headquarters in Kiwatule on Wednesday 22 November 23 and attended by PSOs drawn from UPDF Services, formations and units.
WSACCO PSOs are the UPDF Political Commissars (PCs) who are designated to support WSACCO operations in their respective Service Commands, Formations and Units in the areas of mobilization, member education and monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
Col Ahebwa emphasized the importance of conscious discipline in the success, sustainability and progress of UPDF from which WSACCO management should borrow a leaf. “I Implore you to emulate the same spirit, methods of work and discipline to enable you to keep an eye on Wazalendo operations and facilitate delivery of quality services to the members in line with the objectives for which WSACCO was established” said the Deputy CPC.
He noted that WSACCO is so strategic to the security of the country and therefore whoever disorganizes the progress of Wazalendo SACCO, shall be threatening the security of the country and must be identified and uprooted in the interest of security of the state.
The Chief Executive Officer of Wazalendo SACCO Col Joseph Freddy Onata in his presentation, appreciated the PSOs for their contribution to the service of Wazalendo SACCO members.
According to the CEO, the PSOs engagement with management is an annual event and a platform for WSACCO management and the PSOs to meet, share ideas and experiences, discuss challenges and come up with better ways of ensuring sustainability by addressing challenges at hand in order to serve the members better. He emphasized that the one day interaction is further intended to arm the PSOs with information regarding the status and strategic direction of WSACCO so that the PSOs can use the information provided to align members’ aspirations to WSACCO’s strategic direction in their respective areas of responsibility.
“WSACCO is pursuing a dual mission model that promotes both business and social (welfare) aspects. Our members must be made aware that if the social mission is pursued at the expense of the business mission, the payment of interest and dividends will not be possible because there will be no income generated to pay. On the other if the business mission is pursued at the expense of the social mission the services will become expensive due to the quest for high profits and members will miss the benefit of affordable financial services. The optimum approach therefore is to strike a balance between the two missions so that WSACCO remains sustainable, services become affordable and mobilization of members to save, borrow and invest for the betterment of their welfare becomes easy”. Col Onata said
He noted that having a clear understanding of WSACCO’s strategic direction as enshrined in the Vision, Mission and objectives is therefore key if the PSOs are to effectively mobilize members to appreciate the milestones achieved so far and to reasonably predict where WSACCO shall be in the foreseeable future. He called upon the PSOs to go back and share the information and knowledge that they wil be exposed to during the workshop with the members in their respective Units and Service formations.
The Head Corporate Communications WSACCO Col John Nuwagaba asked the PSOs to be agents of humility. ” Use your offices as opportunities God has given you to touch lives. You are given offices to serve others not to serve your interests. Treat people with fairness regardless of their origin and status. Col Nuwagaba emphasized.
During the workshop, the PSOs were given updates on among others; WSACCO’s membership, share capital, savings, loan portfolio, total assets and factors that determine the computation of savings and lending interest rates.
The Head of Operations Maj Julius Niragire made a presentation on new products and services, while Maj David Mbiire gave highlights on services offered by Wazalendo Investments Limited- (WIL). Maj Mbiire also outlined the opportunities that are available for the members in the WSACCO real estates business and called upon PSOs to mobilize the members to buy genuine plots offered by WIL.
Charity Namanya
PR Manager WSACCO