Religious leaders urge cooperatives to build stronger networks

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Religious leaders have called on cooperatives across Uganda to work together and foster unity to advance economic development and social cohesion.

They believe this will create a common purpose among cooperatives, enabling them to build stronger networks and achieve a greater impact.

As part of the activities leading up to the International Day of Cooperatives, the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), in partnership with the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), hosted a special Prayer Breakfast on June 27, 2025, at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

The spiritually enriching event brought together cooperative members, stakeholders, and religious leaders to encourage unity, mutual support, and collaboration both within cooperatives and the broader community.

Herbert Buyondo, the Bishop of Kampala for the Born-Again Faith, urged Ugandans to channel the same enthusiasm they show at weddings and social gatherings into investing in cooperative ventures.

He questioned why people readily contribute to celebratory functions yet hesitate to support economic initiatives that could collectively transform their communities.

“Everybody will show up when we say that we have a wedding. Everybody will contribute,” he said, describing this tendency for lavish celebrations as a form of "cosmetic enjoyment" that disappears when challenges arise.

Buyondo stressed the need for a mindset shift among cooperative leaders, urging them to focus less on short-term pleasure and more on identifying and addressing the real issues facing their communities.

“Let us not be focused on an enemy that we need to beat, on a question that needs to be answered,” he said, encouraging leaders to define clear objectives for collective progress.

He drew on historical examples, including President Museveni’s early efforts to mobilise villagers into settled communities and away from unproductive nomadic lifestyles. This, he said, was a deliberate response to a national need, made possible through unity and strategic leadership.

Buyondo also cited a visit to western Uganda, where communities had successfully improved their livelihoods by working together.

“The enemy number one we have is the enemy that divides us. Divided, we fall. United, we stand. The enemy number one we have is the enemy that divides us,” Buyondo emphasised.

Religion and unity

Regional assistant mufti, Sheikh Hamid Sserwadda, echoed the call for collaboration, stating that cooperation in goodness is a foundational principle of Islamic society.

“When believers work together, there is motivation, enthusiasm and a rise in spirit,” Sserwadda said.

He added that such unity brings not only human encouragement but also “divine help and blessings in the deed.”

Sserwadda explained that collective efforts can spark a chain reaction of good deeds, becoming a great light whose glow positively affects multiple aspects of community life.

He stressed that no matter how powerful or influential a person may be, “what can be achieved through such unity of action cannot be achieved by an individual alone.”

He also noted that every individual is endowed with unique talents by God, and combining these abilities yields extraordinary outcomes.

“Cooperating with others means drawing on the skills and talents that each person has to offer,” he said.

Highlighting the value of synergy, Sheikh Sserwadda said that when talents are combined, the results are amplified.

He defined synergy as the “interaction of multiple elements to produce a result greater than the sum of their individual effects,” stating that when people with complementary strengths unite, “the result is greater than the total of each individual effect.”

Ivan Asiimwe, general secretary of the Uganda Cooperative Alliance, underlined the vital role cooperatives play in uniting communities and driving national development.

He noted that cooperatives promote self-help, love, and mutual support, values that have long supported the growth of Western economies.

He urged Ugandans to embrace the cooperative model and work collaboratively across sectors, highlighting the importance of partnership between the Church, development agencies, and cooperative members.

“We are so grateful, as you see, that we have the Church, we have everybody, the partners are here, the cooperators are here,” he said.

Asiimwe also pointed out the extensive reach of cooperatives in Uganda, noting that there are over 46,000 registered cooperatives serving an estimated 18 million people.

“We are the largest consumers in this country,” he said. “This massive demographic cannot be overlooked.”

The Prayer Breakfast was also attended by Rev. Emmanuel Lutaaya, Vicar of St. Paul Cathedral Namirembe, Dr Kamiza representing the Seventh-day Adventist Uganda Union, Bishop Andrew Lugoloobi, and Rev. Daniel Token Wejuli, programme specialist for spirituality and religious structures.

This year’s International Day of Cooperatives will be marked under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better Future for All.”