Africa-Press – Uganda. Mushana Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited (MCS) has marked 10 years of operation, celebrating a decade that has seen it grow from a small savings initiative into one of Uganda’s fast-rising multipurpose cooperatives with assets worth more than Shs30 billion.
The anniversary celebrations were held at Ddungu Resort in Munyonyo, with the Minister of State for Cooperatives, Fredrick Gume Ngobi, presiding as chief guest.
The event brought together members, board directors, regulators and partners to reflect on the Sacco’s journey and future ambitions.
The MSC chairman Anthony Ochieng, who is also an NRM-leaning independent candidate for the Ochero County parliamentary seat in Kaberamaido District, used the 10th anniversary to highlight what he describes as practical, results-driven leadership anchored in collective effort.
Speaking at the celebrations held at Ddungu Resort in Munyonyo, Ochieng, who chairs the MCS board, said the cooperative’s growth over the last decade demonstrates how communities can transform their livelihoods when leadership focuses on systems, discipline and shared ownership.
“What began in 2015 as a small savings idea among a few young professionals has grown into a Shs30 billion institution that has changed lives,” Ochieng said.
“These are not just numbers. They are homes built, children educated, businesses expanded and futures secured.”
The milestone event was officiated by the Minister of State for Cooperatives, Fredrick Gume Ngobi, who commended Mushana for exemplifying the power of unity and collective investment.
Gume Ngobi described the cooperative as a model institution that has earned the trust of both members and government through strict adherence to cooperative laws and accountability.
“In just ten years, Mushana has not only survived but thrived. This is proof that cooperatives can be a catalyst for faster community and national development,” the minister said.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mushana currently has 1,288 members and investments valued at about Shs30 billion across agriculture, real estate, construction, education and financial services.
Ochieng said all investments are deliberately structured to benefit members and promote long-term wealth creation.
As he intensifies his campaign for the Ochero County seat ahead of the January 15, 2026 elections, Ochieng has increasingly pointed to the Mushana story as evidence of his approach to leadership.
He is contesting as an independent after losing a closely fought NRM primary to Francis Okullo in July.
“A saucepan was chosen to symbolise the amount of work that still needs to be cooked for the development of our people,” Ochieng said recently while addressing supporters in Ochero.
“If we have built an institution like Mushana from scratch and made it work, we can do the same for our constituency.”
Ochieng is set to face stiff competition in Ochero County, a constituency created in 2020, with incumbent MP Simon Peter Emigu of FDC seeking re-election. Other contenders include NRM flagbearer Francis Okullo, UPC’s Calvin Otocon, and independents Veronica Isala and Malvine Luben Eputu.
At the Mushana anniversary, Ochieng also announced new investments that he said mirror the kind of development he wants to champion in public office.
These include the launch of a primary school in Kyanja–Kungu, rent-to-own housing units under the Twilight Living project, land investments in Ntenjeru, Nkokonjeru and Kasanje, a planned retirement village, and expanded agro-processing initiatives.
Despite challenges over the years, including regulatory changes, the COVID-19 pandemic and loan defaults, Ochieng said the cooperative has emerged resilient and stable.
“MCS has passed the mortality stage that many institutions in Uganda fail to survive. Our next focus is digital financial services, stronger governance and innovative products that serve members wherever they are,” he said, adding that the Sacco plans to increase its share price from Shs100,000 to Shs1 million effective January 1, 2026.
As members celebrated a decade of growth, Ochieng urged them to remain active and to carry the cooperative spirit into their communities, saying the same principles can drive transformation in public leadership.
“When people work together with a shared vision, extraordinary things are possible,” he said.
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