November 11, 2025
Kampala, Uganda – In the bustling neighborhoods of Kampala, where livelihoods often hang by a thread, a quiet economic revolution is taking root. Through the power of cooperatives, thousands of residents — especially women, people with disabilities, and refugees — are rewriting their stories from poverty to possibility.
Building Solidarity Through Cooperatives
Access to affordable capital has long been one of the greatest barriers to sustainable livelihoods in Uganda’s capital. Traditional banking systems often lock out the very people who need financial support the most. But since 2015, a groundbreaking initiative by Caritas Kampala has been turning that challenge into an opportunity — by helping local communities form and strengthen cooperative societies and SACCOs (Savings and Credit Cooperatives).
The idea is simple but powerful: when people pool resources, skills, and trust, they can build economic resilience from the ground up. As Caritas Kampala’s cooperative office explains, “Cooperatives are more than financial structures — they are vehicles for dignity and empowerment.”
The Numbers Tell the Story
Today, Caritas Kampala supports 42 active cooperatives, including 29 SACCOs and 13 multipurpose societies — among them six agricultural cooperatives — serving over 36,500 members. Together, they’ve built a loan portfolio worth more than UGX 32.2 billion, providing low-interest credit to those previously excluded from formal financial systems.
The project has been especially deliberate about inclusion. Tailored initiatives, such as simplified loan processes and dedicated quotas, have helped people with disabilities access financial services with dignity and ease.
Beyond Credit: Building Skills and Confidence
The cooperatives go beyond savings and lending. Members receive hands-on training in financial literacy, business skills, governance, strategic planning, and advocacy — the building blocks of sustainable enterprise. This comprehensive support is transforming cooperatives into self-sustaining institutions capable of managing their own growth.
A recent evaluation found remarkable improvements in members’ living standards. From acquiring land and building homes to paying school fees and starting small businesses, members say their lives have taken a positive turn.
“Before joining the cooperative, I couldn’t even dream of getting a loan,” one member said. “Now I not only run a business — I’m planning for my children’s future.”
A Story of Change: Martha’s Journey
For Martha, a widowed mother from Kampala’s outskirts, joining a SACCO in 2019 was the turning point of her life. Once entirely dependent on her late husband and struggling to feed her children, she decided to take a leap of faith.
With her first loan, Martha opened a small retail shop. Over time, her business grew — she bought a deep freezer, expanded her stock, and turned her shop into a thriving enterprise. With her second loan of UGX 2 million, she purchased a piece of land and began constructing her own home, brick by brick.
Today, Martha is proud to call herself self-reliant. She provides for her children, pays their school fees, and dreams of building rental houses to generate more income. Her words capture the spirit of the project:
“I don’t depend on anyone to feed me. What I need, I am capable of attaining. Even happiness is something I can get on my own.”
A Ripple Effect for the Future
The ripple effects of the cooperative movement are spreading across Kampala. SACCOs are now expanding into new trading centers, offering inclusive financial services to everyone — regardless of religion, race, or gender. Caritas Kampala envisions a future where financial inclusion, social equity, and community-driven development go hand in hand.
And for thousands like Martha, that future is already here — one small loan, one shared goal, and one cooperative at a time.
(image shows Caritas Kampala team on the occasion of a recent VC visit in 2024)