NICHOLAS A
John Bosco Abaho, the Country Manager of Agriterra, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering farmer organisations, has challenged members of Rukungiri Farmers SACCO to prioritise saving and buying more shares if they are to keep their SACCO strong.
He today, 16th Feb 2026, appealed to delegates of Rukungiri Farmers SACCO during the SACCO’s 8th Annual General Meeting held at Hotel Riverside in Rukungiri Municipality, where he emphasized that saving and buying shares is the way SACCOs can continue to be financially stable.
He also urged SACCO authorities to focus on improving members’ agricultural activities since they are the ones that have enabled the SACCO to reach this milestone.
He stressed the importance of borrowing and paying loans in the forward movement of a SACCO, condemning loan defaulting as a vice to development.
During the meeting, members chose new board members, entrusting Mr. Mugarura Deus with the position of SACCO Board Chairperson, replacing Mr. Agaba Andrew.
Mugarura will work with Mr. Kamwehanga Denis as the Vice Chairperson, Ms. Tusingwire Charity as the SACCO Treasurer, Mr. Byamukama Jolcam as the General Secretary, and board members including Ms. Kyomuhangi Lilian Maanige, Mr. Magara Emmanuel, and Mr. Mwebesa Isaac.
Mr. Mugarura, the newly elected Board Chairperson, vowed to liaise with other SACCO authorities to ensure it remains stable by mobilizing more members, imploring members to increase shares, ensuring a good relationship between members and SACCO authorities, and working towards rectifying liquidity challenges.
Additionally, Mugarura said that he will not eliminate any benefits that members have been receiving from the SACCO, such as agricultural inputs like hoes, coffee seeds, among others.
Atuhaire Patience, the SACCO General Manager, highlighted the SACCO’s targets for 2026, such as increasing membership, growing savings, expanding the loan portfolio and share capital, and maintaining the income ratio.
She said that the SACCO currently has 1,317 members, shares worth UGX 327,000,800, savings worth UGX 1,102,029,848, a net profit/loss of UGX 163,922,408, and a loan portfolio of UGX 1,904,229,231.
