WAZALENDO SACCO HOSTS THE 3RD WOMEN’S COHORT UNDERGOING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AT UCSCU

WAZALENDO SACCO HOSTS THE 3RD WOMEN’S COHORT UNDERGOING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AT UCSCU

22nd May 2024

Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative Society ( WSACCO) hosted womenn leaders drawn from 13 SACCOs across the country who are undergoing women mentorship program at the Uganda Cooperative Savings and Credit Union (UCSCU). The female leaders toured WSACCO head office in Kiwatule- Kampala as part of their benchmarking.

The program that commenced on 19th May 2024 shall culminate into graduation of the ladies at UCSCU Headquarters in Maganjo, Wakiso District on 24 May 2024.

Uganda’s chapter of Women’s Mentorship Program is an initiative of Canadian Development Foundation (CDF). The program is intended to equip and empower women leaders in the Cooperatives sector to be contributors in the financial inclusion agenda and to develop their leadership skills.

While delivering a presentation to the women leaders, the Chief Executive Officer of Wazalendo SACCO Col Joseph Freddy Onata commended the good job done by CDF and UCSCU to empower female leaders in SACCOs to be productive in their respective institutions and the SACCO industry in general.

Col Onata implored the ladies to utilize the training opportunity to learn, unlearn, network, get new ideas and to map out ways of dealing with challenges that SACCO sector and the economy have to contend with. He also challenged the ladies to expand their view of the SACCO business model, philosophy and identity in order to effectively serve their members and grow their SACCOs.
” I implore you to be wise,and to understand the SACCO business model, philosophy and identity as a basis of driving your leadership and service mandate. Your SACCO service mandate starts with a member and ends with a member” Said the CEO Wazalendo SACCO.

He encouraged other SACCOs to embrace training and consider it as an investment if they are to make remarkable performance. “As Wazalendo we are interested in building a strong and vibrant SACCO industry in Uganda. We believe training of our people and also supporting other SACCOs to grow is the way to go. It is upon that background that we delighted to host you here”. Col Onata remarked.

The Director of Finance and Administration Lt Col Benon Kato asked institutional SACCOs to bring on board their strategic leaders to help them understand the members’ behaviour and capacity to repay loans because they are the employers. He added that, besides recovering loans from source, the leaders of the institutions from which the SACCO membership is drawn can help SACCOs leaders to mobilize members to save and buy more shares that provide liquidity to SACCO and also act as security for their borrowing.

The Director of Operations Mr Atalyeba William advised community SACCOs to look for members. He further encouraged them to mobilize savings, build a strong brand and reputation which he identified as important for winning members trust and loyalty. He also challenged them to develop products with attractive features that meet members needs, tastes and preferences.

Ms Mercy Tumukunde the CDF Women Mentorship program coordinator in Uganda appreciated Wazalendo for promoting the women agenda through training and supporting their programs whenever approached to give support.

The objective of this training is to impart women in cooperative management with skills. The program is also intended to equip the women with knowledge and to increase their confidence and resolve to become equal contributors in the cooperative workforce. “Through this training we encourage peer to peer learning in copperative management and to lobby and advocate for initiatives that promote women in cooperatives. Out of the 32 ladies who are attending the program, 06 are from Wazalendo SACCO”. Tumukunde explained

Charity Namanya
PR Manager -WSACCO