Kikooba United Cooperative tipped on skills development, value addition.

Kiryadongo, Uganda: Over 80 cooperators from Kiryadongo district have been tipped on skills development and value addition, as a way of creating and generating wealth.

The training, mainly of members from the Kiryadongo-based Kiigya United Farmers and Kikooba United Cooperative was organized by the Uhuru Institute for Social Development under their Coop360 Network – a platform that brings together primary cooperatives and business Associations to share opportunities for growth.

Addressing the members at Kikooba Parish, Kigumba Sub County in Kiryadongo district, Mr. Leonard Okello, the Chief Executive Officer Uhuru Institute for Social Development urged participants to get organized under cooperatives, and add value to their produce so as to earn more.

“I encourage you to join or form cooperatives. Cooperatives values and principals – their discipline and democratic ownership will fast-track your individual and collective economic growth,” said Okello.

Other facilitators included Dr. Tukahikayo Denis, the Uhuru Institute Business Development and Technical Advisor, Mr. Francis Lulahali, the Network, and Research Assistant, and Mr. Kalyegira Musoke, the Masindi District Commercial Officer.

The Kikooba United Cooperative Board Chairperson, Mr. Byaruhanga Francis hailed the Uhuru Institute for its commitment to training cooperators in Cooperative ethos, saying that the skills they were imparting were transforming lives.

He said the farmers decided to come together to form the Kikooba United Cooperative in 2004, after persistent losses they were incurring at the hands of middlemen.

Started in 2002 as a farmer group with 30 members, it later registered as a multipurpose cooperative on 9th December 2004, and has since grown to 120 members. Now, the cooperative runs a savings and credit scheme, and also provides bulking marketing, and tractor for hire services.

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