Bukomansimbi District is preparing to take center stage on July 20th, 2024, as it gears up to host the prestigious celebrations of the International Day of Cooperatives. The event, themed “Cooperatives Build a Better Future for All,” will unfold at the scenic Misanvu Demonstration Church of Uganda Primary School grounds in Kibinge Sub-county.
This significant gathering is backed by key stakeholders including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, the Uganda Cooperative Alliance Ltd, and the International Cooperative Alliance. The festivities will span a full coop week, featuring diverse activities aimed at promoting community welfare and economic empowerment.
Bukomansimbi is renowned for its vibrant cooperative unions, particularly in coffee farming and value addition. The Kibinge Coffee Farmers Cooperative and Saving Society, established in 1995, stands out with over 2500 farmers producing award-winning Ugandan Fair-Trade fine Robusta coffee.
Reflecting on Uganda’s cooperative movement, which dates back to the early 20th century, the celebrations will underscore the pivotal role of cooperatives in empowering rural communities through collective economic endeavors.
Activities planned for the celebratory week include a press briefing, tree planting, medical camps, blood donations, a national symposium, exhibitions, a sports gala, community outreach programs, interreligious prayers, and a conference on national microfinance saving groups. These events highlight the cooperative spirit of unity and mutual support.
Farmers involved in cooperatives, led by Kibinge coffee farmers chairperson Sowedi Sserwadda, expressed anticipation for the event, emphasizing how cooperatives have economically empowered them, fostered community support, provided access to resources, enhanced skills, and ensured long-term sustainability in agriculture.
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