The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives in Uganda has introduced a new digital registration process for credit and savings cooperative societies across the country. This development has received positive feedback from various stakeholders involved in cooperative activities.
The introduction of the Cooperatives Registry Management Information System took place during a launch event held in Mbarara City on Thursday.
Mary Amumpaire Mwesigwa, the Head of ICT at the Ministry, emphasized the significance of this transition from manual to electronic registration methods. She highlighted how the new system ensures that cooperative societies can access services more equitably and promptly. These services include mobile money payments, e-certification of documents, and e-reservation of cooperative names. Mwesigwa noted that these services are now seamlessly integrated into the entire service delivery chain, from registration to the management of cooperative societies at the Ministry.
During the launch ceremony, Geraldine Ssali, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, underscored how the development of the system aligns with Uganda’s National Vision 2040. This vision emphasizes the importance of ICT as a significant opportunity for economic transformation in the country. Ssali highlighted how the new system will strengthen cooperatives by enhancing their capacity in group dynamics, entrepreneurship, and value chain activities, particularly collective marketing efforts.
Alex Asiimwe, the Chairperson of the Mbarara Grapes Farmers Cooperative, expressed appreciation for the transition to a digital system. He pointed out that the previous practice of traveling to Kampala for filing annual returns and making amendments to Cooperative By-laws was inconvenient for cooperators. Asiimwe also highlighted the challenges of manual file retrieval, describing it as tiresome and time-consuming.
Allan Mbabazi, the head of ICT at Rwanyamahembe SACCO, highlighted the financial burden associated with traveling to Kampala for cooperative transactions. He noted that cooperatives would spend significant sums, exceeding a million shillings, to carry out activities at the Ministry.
However, Claire Kasheija, a cooperator, urged Ministry officials and Commercial officers to provide training to SACCO officials and board members of cooperatives. She also suggested providing them with computers and internet gadgets to facilitate the implementation of the new system.
Ivan Asiimwe, the Secretary General of Uganda Cooperative Alliance, expressed optimism about the digitalization of cooperative registration. He emphasized how this advancement would facilitate the revival of the Uganda Cooperative Bank, enabling Ugandans in cooperatives to save more money for investment in self-development projects.
Table: Types of Cooperatives in Uganda
| Type of Cooperative | Number |
|---|---|
| SACCOs | 10,678 |
| Emyooga SACCOs | 6,880 |
| Credit and Savings Cooperative Societies | 13,159 |
In Uganda, there are a total of 44,879 cooperatives, including SACCOs, Emyooga SACCOs, and credit and savings cooperative societies, among others. This diverse array of cooperatives reflects the vibrant cooperative movement in the country, which stands to benefit from the digitalization of registration processes.
