Over 16000 cooperatives under Uganda cooperatives savings and credit union  today petitioned the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga demanding for the revival  of cooperatives in the country.  Among key issues these demanded included a fully funded ministry for cooperatives that will be addressing their demands, functional structures with qualified staff from sub county to National level, institution of a cooperative fund to support cooperators and institution of a cooperative regulatory Authority that will be responsible for initiating the policies that will guide and run cooperatives, revival of the cooperative bank among many other demands.

Speaking on behalf of the team that presented the petition to the speaker, Twaha Kyaka, who is  the  Business Development Manager  Uganda Cooperatives Savings and credit Union and Jane Amuge business development advisor  of Uhuru Institute called upon all the 5 heads of state of the East African Community to assent to the cooperative societies Bill 2014 that was passed by EALA as this will see cooperative movement take advantage of the opportunities in the region.

On recieving this petition, the speaker of parliament  Rebecca Kadaga notes that it’s a good idea to wake up/ revive  all the cooperative unions in every part of the country where they existed given the developmental role they played amongst members. She assured the petitioners that all their concerns are to be looked into by the 10th parliament though she asked them to remain patient as all the demands can not be fulfilled at once.

The petition has been signed by over 1000 cooperators.