Empowering Both Men And Women With Saving Skills Is Critical – Says CEO Wazalendo SACCO

Today, Uganda Cooperative Savings and Credit Union (UCSCU) was urged to collaborate with the African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA) to develop a Men’s Mentorship Programme in cooperatives, mirroring the existing programme for women.

This initiative would foster synergy between men and women who are mentored and empowered equally.

Col Joseph Freddy Onata, Chief Executive Officer of Wazalendo SACCO, made these remarks while presiding over the graduation ceremony of 28 ladies who completed a one-week Women Mentorship Programme at the UCSCU headquarters in Maganjo.

Six ladies from Wazalendo SACCO were among the 28 graduands.

Col Onata emphasised the need for concurrent mentoring and empowerment of men and women. He noted that women placed under unmentored men often lack a conducive environment to apply their acquired knowledge and express themselves freely.

He commended the excellent work done by ACCOSCA, UCSCU, and the CDF Canada programme in building leaders, empowering women leaders in cooperatives, and impacting communities.

The CEO urged leaders of all SACCOs to develop a culture of investing in training to enhance their service impact.

Hon. Jaria Bintu Abwoori Lukumu, Chairperson of UCSCU, congratulated the ladies on completing their training and appreciated SACCO leaders for sponsoring their staff to gain knowledge. She further pledged on behalf of the Union to continue encouraging and supporting ladies after their training to ensure their initiatives have a tangible impact on the ground.

Mrs. Mercy Tumukunde Agaba, Coordinator of the Cooperative Development Foundation Canada in Uganda, encouraged the ladies to embrace the knowledge imparted to them. She added that the effective application of knowledge and experience to tackle community challenges would differentiate them from other leaders. Tumukunde appreciated partners like Wazalendo SACCO for supporting the women’s mentorship programme and the cooperatives movement as a whole. She thanked the Government of Uganda for providing an enabling environment that allows women to thrive.

Mrs. Dorothy Mwesigwa, a trainer and product of the women’s mentorship programme, noted that she and Mercy received similar training from Canada and, upon returning to Uganda, embarked on women empowerment through the Women Mentorship Programme. This marked the third graduation, with the programme continuing to grow in strength.

Mwesigwa encouraged the ladies to be firm and take up leadership positions to advocate for fellow women.

The training covered various topics, including networking, self-discovery, balancing work and family, women in governance, personal branding, conflict management, mental health, and financial wellness, among others.