From learning visits and new branch launches to the members whose lives have changed through saving and credit, here is a look at the journey of Bisheshe SACCO.
Highlights from across the cooperative as we keep learning, growing and reaching more communities.
In the heart of Ibanda town, where economic opportunities were scarce, a group of dedicated individuals came together with a vision of financial empowerment and community development. That vision took shape in 2002 as Bisheshe SACCO, a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society aimed at transforming the lives of local farmers, entrepreneurs, women and youth.
Bisheshe Co-operative Savings and Credit Society was established in 2002 and officially registered as a cooperative on 15th March 2003 by the Ministry of Trade. The SACCO is regulated by the Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority. Its founder members included the communities of Bisheshe in Ibanda District and the neighbouring areas of Kamwenge, Kitagwenda and Kiruhura.
The SACCO is located in Bisheshe Division, Ibanda Municipality, along the Ibanda–Kamwenge Road, opposite the Bisheshe Division Headquarters. Our membership is made up of women, youth and men, the majority of whom are farmers and entrepreneurs across Bisheshe Division and the wider Ibanda, Kitagwenda, Kamwenge and Kiruhura districts.
Farmers who struggled for years with low productivity and debt, business people who lacked sufficient capital, and youth facing unemployment have all found a turning point through Bisheshe SACCO. With access to affordable loans, farmers have purchased better seeds and fertilisers, doubled their harvests, expanded their farms and educated their children. Today these members are among the SACCO's strongest advocates, encouraging others to join.
Entrepreneurs who began with small poultry businesses have used affordable credit to build poultry houses and buy feeds. Their businesses have thrived and created employment for several members of the community. Our boda boda loans have opened up income opportunities for the youth, helping them sustain their livelihoods.
Bisheshe SACCO's impact reaches beyond individual success stories. The cooperative has become a catalyst for broader community development, as members start new businesses, improve their homes, educate their children and contribute to local infrastructure. As of 2024, the SACCO serves over 5,000 members with a robust financial portfolio, and has become a model for other SACCOs in the region.
Bisheshe SACCO continues to evolve, exploring new avenues for growth and sustainability. Plans are under way to enhance digital banking services for members in remote areas and to expand our financial literacy programmes. Our story is a reminder that with vision, commitment and collaboration, even the most modest beginning can lead to transformative outcomes.
The impact of PROFIRA interventions on the operations and sustainability of Bisheshe Sub-County Cooperative Savings and Credit Society, as told by the SACCO Manager.
Bisheshe Sub-County SACCO was formed in 2003 as part of the nationwide SACCO formation initiative and registered as a cooperative on 15th March 2003. Alongside PROFIRA, the SACCO has received support through other government programmes, including the Rural Financial Services Programme (RFSP). Our core objectives have always been to provide fair-rate credit that fights poverty, to foster development at the household level through savings and credit, to help members build their own affordable financial resources, and to offer sound financial advice.
At the start of the project, our SACCO was recovering from a fraud caused by former staff, alongside a number of other challenges:
Working with service providers including DEMIS Consults, Future Link Technologies and UCCK Kigumba, PROFIRA delivered training in credit and default management, financial literacy, and the development and review of policies and procedures. The SACCO upgraded its management information system to a version that produced far better loan reports, and a member of staff was sponsored for professional training that prepared the SACCO for the new regulatory environment.
The interventions brought significant and tangible change. Loan recovery improved from 53% to 83%, the loans committee, board and credit officers gained real skill in credit and default management, and our lending policies and reporting systems were modernised.
| Indicator | 2016 | Before PROFIRA (2017) | Project end (Dec 2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding loans (UGX) | 495,724,800 | 533,802,400 | 693,430,333 |
| Member savings (UGX) | 236,471,500 | 316,313,120 | 346,844,100 |
| Membership | 2,630 | 2,814 | 3,417 |
| Portfolio at risk (>30 days) | 60% | 58% | 27% |
Members trained in financial literacy have boosted their household incomes and embraced timely loan repayment, while mobile banking has eased service delivery and transparency, letting members check balances and statements by SMS. In our own small way, this work contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals our community cares about most:
We extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Uganda for its support through PROFIRA, in partnership with DEMIS Consults, Future Link Technologies and UCCK Kigumba, and to our esteemed members, staff and leaders who cooperated throughout. We gladly pledge our unreserved cooperation should there be another chance to work together.
Join a cooperative that turns small, steady savings into real change for families and communities.