Government’s Fund For Teachers Boosts Economic Wellbeing In Teso Region

   

The Teachers’ Saccos in Teso Region are set to receive a substantial financial boost under walimu Co-operative Union Ltd, a teacher’s based savings, loan scheme and revolving fund established by the government of Uganda with the aim of improving teacher’s lives across the country.  By Justine Ecakara and Odongo. Thursday 21, August 2025.
 
She mentioned that the Teso region had already benefited from 3 billion shillings disbursed to teachers’ Sacco’s in revolving funds.
 
Ms. Atai said that Teso received over 3 billion but over 2 billion shillings have so far been paid back to the Cooperative Union, with Kumi Progressive Teachers Sacco leading in loan repayment followed by Amuria Teachers Sacco and Kalaki Teachers Sacco.
She urged different stakeholders to get involved in the program to ensure its success of the repayments, noting that therefore little stakeholder’s involvement pre-disbursement.
“We have brought on board all stakeholders because this is a government program, they must monitor, supervise and they must be aware that government is intervening in the issue of teachers”, Atai said.
Teso Sub Region has a total of 18 teacher’s Saccos, 200 spread across the Country.
The National Vice Chairperson of Wahuni Cooperative Union, Stephen Olinga, emphasized that the main objective of the Presidential Fund for Teachers is to increase teachers’ income levels and improve their economic status.
Through their Saccos, teachers can borrow money for various economic activities to supplement their salaries.
The digitalized loan disbursement system implemented by the Cooperative Union aims to streamline the process and prevent multiple loans to teachers.
Local teachers’ Saccos, such as the Amuria Teachers Sacco and Kumi Teachers Progressive Sacco have demonstrated successful loan repayment rates, enabling them to access additional funding from the Cooperative Union.
Moses Omagor, the chairman board Amuria Teacher’s sacco attributed the successful repayment performance to screening of the teachers before they are given a loan, coordination from the human resource office, the chief administrative office and the district education officer, appraisal from the friends and the decision to give the funds will be left to the board.
He revealed that Amuria district teacher’s sacco has 300 members and received a total amount of 280 million but the loan principal loan is now about 60 million UGX making the repayment to 97%.
“Teachers come with a number of projects but we have been guiding them but the most common successful projects are poultry, goats and small business and some use the money for paying the children’s school fees”, Omagor added.
He says that the additional 500 million will be every good boost for the sacco and will be given out to the lined number of the teachers as soon as they receive the money.
The funds borrowed by teachers are used for income-generating projects, education expenses, and small-scale businesses, contributing to the economic growth of the region.
 
In conclusion, the initiative has received praise from local government officials for supporting teachers and their families through affordable credit schemes.
There is a call for transparency in the implementation of the fund to ensure that the intended beneficiaries benefit from the financial support. District education officers are urged to monitor and inspect projects funded by the Saccos to ensure accountability and value for money.
Additionally, teachers are encouraged to actively participate in their Saccos to promote savings and responsible borrowing, while sacco leaders are warned against political interference in loan processes to safeguard the cooperative’s financial stability.