Lira, Uganda | Youth leaders across the Lango sub-region are taking charge of their economic future by establishing a region-wide Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCO).
Spearheaded under the Lango NRM Youth League and led by the youth leaders, the initiative is set to become a long-term financial engine, driving self-reliance, unlocking entrepreneurship, and tackling the persistent challenge of youth unemployment.
The formal declaration of the SACCO’s formation came during a regional youth leadership summit on Wednesday at Benvia Hotel in Lira City, which drew representatives from all districts and divisions in the Lango subregion.
According to the organisers, the SACCO is designed to function from the village level upwards, offering a grassroots-to-national financial model for youth inclusion.
Brian Yeko Ongora alias Awi-awobe, the Lira City Youth League Chairperson, noted that the SACCO had been conceived as a platform to unify youth economic activities and ensure their leadership tenure results in practical impact.
He explained that the youth leaders aimed to invest in projects ranging from poultry farming and vocational training to education support and health initiatives.
Ongora said the youth were determined to make their five-year term visible through tangible development rather than relying on promises.
Sodrick Ogwang, Chairperson of the Lira District Youth League and interim General Secretary of the SACCO, said the creation of the cooperative was inspired by successful government-backed youth ventures elsewhere in Uganda.
He added that the absence of structured organisations had left many young people unable to benefit from state or donor programmes.
Ogwang argued that youth cannot continue lamenting about joblessness when they are not part of organised frameworks, and he affirmed that the SACCO would act as a platform to lobby for support from both government and private investors.
He stressed that the SACCO would be operated with professionalism and transparency, encouraging youth with training in fields such as accounting, procurement, and administration to take on leadership roles within the structure.
Membership registration had already begun, with a subscription fee of UGX 20,000, initially targeting elected youth league leaders.
Ivan Ayo, Kole District Chairperson of the NRM Youth League, emphasised the importance of accountability and inclusiveness.
He urged the leaders to learn from past failures, where similar initiatives collapsed due to mismanagement and lack of openness.
Ayo explained that this SACCO should set a new standard by maintaining transparency in financial operations and member engagement.
He added that, beyond providing capital, the SACCO would help create employment and build inter-district networks for knowledge and resource sharing.
Sharon Akite, NRM Youth League Chairperson of Otuke District, called on fellow leaders to act with integrity and prioritise rural youth who often remain excluded from development interventions.
She noted that many youths in remote villages lacked access to basic economic opportunities and said the SACCO would allow leaders to directly support them with agricultural inputs, livestock, scholastic materials, and income-generating tools.
Leaders across the board dismissed the perception that the initiative was politically motivated.
Ogwang clarified that while the launch came during an electoral cycle, the SACCO had been conceived as a non-partisan vehicle for sustainable development.
He said the focus was on building a regional youth economy that would endure beyond political transitions.
Preparations are underway to open the SACCO’s official bank account by Saturday, with mobilisation of new members and partnership engagement already ongoing.
According to the leadership, once fully operational, the SACCO will provide financial and technical backing to youth-led ventures in agribusiness, education, construction, and skilling across the Lango sub-region.
The formation of this SACCO marks one of the most comprehensive youth-led economic initiatives in the region, and leaders are hopeful that with proper management and continued unity, it will offer a reliable path toward financial independence and community transformation.
