Infant Emyooga SACCOs from the Kampala Rural Zone embarked on an educational visit to some of the most successful SACCOs in the Tooro region, with the goal of gaining knowledge and strategies to fuel their own growth and development.
During the visit, mentors from
established and high-performing SACCOs stressed the critical role of effective
and capable leadership in driving success. Mastura Kabatalesa Kusemererwa, the
manager of Busaiga SACCO, underscored the significance of sound governance,
noting that strong leadership is fundamental to the advancement of any SACCO.
"One of the key challenges I
observe is that many issues stem from poor governance. When the governance
body's intentions are aligned, the SACCO will thrive, provided there is no
self-interest," Kusemererwa remarked.
She emphasized that honesty and
transparency are essential values that should guide SACCO operations.
Kusemererwa encouraged the visiting leaders to prioritize these values in their
activities. "Honesty and transparency are the core values I focus on;
these principles come first. The work follows naturally when the heart is in
the right place—are you self-serving, or are you committed to improving
lives?" she asked.
Kusemererwa highlighted that Busaiga
SACCO's commitment to transparency and honesty has enabled them to maintain a
15-year partnership with the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC). She explained
that loans from MSC have been instrumental in expanding their reach and
allowing them to serve more members.
"We began our relationship with
MSC 15 years ago, initially borrowing around UGX 5 million. Today, our
borrowing has increased to UGX 200 million. It has been a journey, but with
every loan we receive and repay, we have had the opportunity to broaden our
scope and serve a larger membership," Kusemererwa shared.
She also advised the visiting SACCO
leaders to avoid involving family members and friends in their SACCOs. "Do
not involve your relatives and friends in your SACCOs. For instance, none of my
friends are members of this SACCO. I openly direct any interested friends to
join other SACCOs to prevent conflicts of interest," she cautioned.
Emmanuel Mbogha, the MSC Zonal
Manager for Kabarole, urged SACCO leaders to hire competent staff while
steering clear of employing relatives. "Hire a qualified staff member
rather than someone you cannot hold accountable in cases of mismanagement.
Ensure that the person you employ is at least educated to the level of S4 and
invest in their training to support your progress," he advised.