Education

Uganda Launches Cooperative Education Programme, MUBS to Begin Training in 2027

Ssemaganda Moses Hope
By Ssemaganda Moses Hope


Uganda Launches Cooperative Education Programme, MUBS to Begin Training in 2027
Uganda Launches Cooperative Education Programme, MUBS to Begin Training in 2027

Share


 

By Mutuunzi Saul

Uganda has launched a cooperative education programme aimed at equipping students with professional skills in cooperative management and enabling higher education institutions to offer qualifications ranging from diplomas to PhDs.

The programme was launched during the National Cooperative Conference 2026 held at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in Nakawa, Kampala. The conference was convened by the Uganda Cooperative Alliance in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

 

The initiative comes as government and stakeholders in the cooperative sector seek to strengthen the contribution of cooperatives to savings mobilisation, investment, agricultural production, value addition, access to markets and improvement of household incomes.

The Third Deputy Prime Minister, Rukia Isanga Nakadama, who represented President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the conference, said cooperatives remain important drivers of socio-economic transformation through savings mobilisation, access to finance, improved production and markets, and increased household incomes.

Nakadama urged cooperatives to move beyond commodity production and participate across the entire value chain, while strengthening governance, accountability and financial sustainability and embracing technology to improve their operations.

 

 

State Minister for Cooperatives Tom Alero Aza also emphasised the importance of strong leadership and good governance in the management of cooperative organisations, particularly Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs).

Under the new programme, MUBS plans to begin teaching cooperative-related courses in 2027, with students expected to pursue diploma and degree programmes in the field. The broader programme is intended to provide a pathway for professional training and qualifications in cooperative management, including higher-level academic programmes.

 

The General Secretary of the Uganda Cooperative Alliance, CPA Ivan Asiimwe, described the introduction of cooperative education as a major milestone in efforts to professionalise Uganda’s cooperative sector.

The programme is expected to provide specialised human resources for cooperatives and support the sector as it expands its role in savings, investment, agricultural production, value addition and economic transformation.

If you have a story in your community or Opinion piece that you would like to share, send us an email via [email protected]

Tagged In

MOST POPULAR STORIES

© Copyright 2026, All Rights Reserved