Government Calls for Unity as Corruption Undermines Cooperatives.
Kwania District Commercial Officer Emmanuel Felix Okwanga revealed that the district has 120 registered cooperatives,36 Emyooga SACCOs and 49 Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCOs,all supported through government investment aimed at improving household incomes.
Regina Lalam
BY HILLARY OPIO OMARA
KWANIA DISTRICT 7th August :The Ministry of Trade,Industry and Cooperatives,through the Uganda Warehouse Receipt System Authority (UWRSA),has warned cooperative societies against corruption and internal leadership wrangles,saying the two challenges continue to undermine the growth of cooperatives across the country.
Speaking during a training meeting for members of Acula-Wic Oil Farmers Cooperative Society Limited in Ayabi Sub-county,Kwania District,UWRSA Commissioner Deborah Kyasiime urged cooperative leaders and members to abandon corruption,power struggles and personal interests that divide their organizations.
Kyasiime said cooperative societies can only thrive if members work together with transparency,accountability and a shared vision. She noted that the government's goal is to see more cooperatives in the Lango Sub-region grow into successful and sustainable enterprises,similar to those established by Dokolo South MP Felix Okot Ogong.
She stressed that unity among members is essential for improving agricultural marketing,increasing farmers' incomes and strengthening the cooperative movement. Kwania District Commercial Officer Emmanuel Felix Okwanga revealed that the district has 120 registered cooperatives,36 Emyooga SACCOs and 49 Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCOs,all supported through government investment aimed at improving household incomes. Okwanga cautioned cooperative members and leaders against mismanaging public funds and engaging in practices that weaken government-supported institutions, emphasizing that accountability is critical to the success of cooperatives.
Members of Aculawic oil seed farmers Co-operative attended training in Ayabi Sub county
Ayabi Sub-county Female Councillor Magrita Akello Okeng said corruption and persistent conflicts between leaders and members remain the biggest obstacles affecting many cooperatives in the Lango Sub-region. She called for stronger leadership, transparency and cooperation to restore members' confidence. Meanwhile,the Chairperson of Acula-Wic Oil Farmers Cooperative Society Limited, Thomas Obongi,said the cooperative has made significant progress and currently holds more than UGX 26 million in savings, enabling it to provide loans to members for soybean production during the second planting season. Obongi said the knowledge gained during the three-day training,which concluded on August 6,2026,will help the cooperative improve its operations and achieve its long-term goal of becoming a reliable source of affordable credit for farmers.
The training programme was conducted in East and West Acholi as well as Kwania District in the Lango Sub-region. Participants are expected to transfer the knowledge to farmers across Uganda to promote proper post-harvest handling, storage and marketing of agricultural produce through the warehouse receipt system.
