Rubanda car washers, bodaboda riders tipped on savings culture
Gerald Arinaitwe, a car washer, said his eyes were opened about developing a savings culture, and he would implement it.
The senior presidential adavisor on agriculture and rural development, Peace Rugambwa (left), interacts with the youth during a campaign meeting at Mareju Cell in Rubanda district on Tuesday November 11, 2025. (Photos by Francis Emorut)
________________
Rubanda district-based bodaboda riders, women, and car washers have been tipped on financial literacy, especially cultivating a culture of savings for future, bigger investments.
According to Micro Finance Support Centre relationship officer Ignatius Ayebale, if one can save 10% of their income per month, within a period of five years, those savings would have accumulated to enable them to invest in bigger, enterprising projects.
He was supported by another facilitator from the Kabale Resident District Commissioner’s office, Sam Muhumuza, who said Ugandans have a poor savings culture, but this can’t stop the bodaboda riders and car washers from becoming good savers of their earnings.
According to the FinScope Survey 2023, Uganda lags in the East African region in terms of savings, while Kenya and Rwanda are at 24% and 18% respectively.
He told the audience that the United States, China and other developed countries can invest in bigger projects due to a high rate of savings.
Ayebale informed participants that Micro Finance Support Centre gives loans to organised groups at 8% interest per annum and encouraged them to form groups and register savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOs) in order to benefit.
He also told them that his organisation trains those who want to access funds and appealed to car washers and bodaboda riders to take advantage of that.
“You organise in groups, have a plan and a target, and we shall give you money,” Ayebale said.
The facilitators made remarks during a campaign meeting organised by the senior presidential advisor on agriculture and rural development, Peace Rugambwa, at Mareju cell in Rubanda district on November 12, 2025.
The meeting attracted over 300 participants who were urged to mobilise support for NRM presidential candidate President Yoweri Museveni to benefit from government poverty alleviation initiatives such as the Women Empowerment Programme, Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme and the recent Parish Development Model.
The senior presidential adavisor on agriculture and rural development Peace Rugambwa (left) addressing NRM supporters during a campaign meeting at Muko town council in Rubanda district on Tuesday November 11, 2025. 
Primaz Atwijukire, a mobiliser from the Kabale Resident District Commissioner's (RDC) office, implored the car washers and bodaboda riders to be patriotic and love their country.
He implored them to value security and work hard to create wealth.
“Have a positive mindset towards development and you would be able to create wealth and improve your household incomes,” Atwijukire said.
The Rubanda RDC Erik Sewandigi agreed with the facilitators, saying the bodaboda riders and car washers should prioritise savings and access loans from the Microfinance Support Centre.
Rugambwa proceeded with her campaigns in another meeting at Muko Town Council in Rubanda district and addressed women groups, encouraging them to scale up their savings culture.
She informed the Prosperous Women Rubanda Group that they should take advantage of Boona Bageigahare Nyekundire Group in Western Uganda to acquire funds for development, but also practice savings.
She inspected their books of record keeping to determine how they were fairing.
"You should keep proper records of your business profits so that you will attract more funding," Rugambwa told the Prosperous Women group.
Prossy Mbabazi, the NRM woman MP flag-bearer for Rubanda district, informed Rugambwa that the women groups have improved their household incomes and are determined to create more wealth if supported financially.
Our eyes are now open
Gerald Arinaitwe, a car washer, said his eyes were opened about developing a savings culture, and he would implement it.
Pius Asiimwe, another car washer, said the tips on how to access funds from Micro Finance Support Centre had inspired him, and he was going to encourage his group to be organised.
Paul Mbabazi, a bodaboda rider, said it was his first time to be sensitised on issues to deal with money and pledged to discuss with his wife how to begin saving from the money he earns from transporting passengers on a daily basis.
Rogers Naturinda, another bodaboda rider, praised Rugambwa for organising such a meeting and appealed for more sensitisation on financial literacy.
Rugambwa is mobilising support for President Museveni ahead of his campaign trail in Kigezi region on November 24.
Christine Musiimenta said she will start saving her monthly earnings from vending vegetables to invest in a vegetable stall.