Umwalimu Savings and Credit Cooperative (Umwalimu SACCO) has achieved its planned activities at 89% this year 2018 in line with improving the welfare of teachers, and the cooperative gained Frw 5 billion profit this year.
This was revealed by Umwalimu SACCO Director General Laurence Uwambaje during the General Delegates Assembly held in Kigali on 21st December 2018 that was assessing this year’s achievements and next year’s action plan and budget.
Participants to the General Delegates Assembly held on 21st December 2018
Ms. Uwambaje said that all planned activities during this year were achieved at 89 percent, and others that were not achieved mostly those relating to technology are still in process. These are like mobile banking to tackle a challenge of proximity facing the members.
“We injected a lot of efforts in recovering the money from loans that was not repaid in due time, and the retrieved money contributed 23 percent of our profit; and this gives a hope to recover all the loans as we continue putting more efforts,” Uwambaje said.
Ms. Laurence Uwambaje, Director General of Umwalimu SACCO
Uwambaje added that Umwalimu SACCO management wants to tackle a challenge of proximity of services to the members, by introducing digital services like mobile banking.
Marcelline Mukandamage, the head teacher at EPA Kalilisi in Bugesera District is one of beneficiaries of Umwalimu SACCO. Mukandamage has benefited from Umwalimu SACCO loan where she was given Frw 2 millon and built a house.
“Before joining Umwalimu SACCO, we were struggling to survive on small salaries but now we can build a sustainable life using loans provided by our cooperative,” she said.
Marcelline Mukandamage, a head-teacher and Umwalimu SACCO member
Currently, the maximum loan allowance given to a member of Umwalimu SACCO is Frw 35 million basing on his/her salary and extra sources of income. “We first assess if these income sources are regular and consistent to give him/her such amount of money,” Ms. Laurence Uwambaje, Director General of Umwalimu SACCO said.
The interest rate on mortgage loan is 11 percent, and as noted by Uwambaje, that it is a good facility as other banks charge 20 percent.
Currently, Umwalimu SACCO has over 70,000 members, and most of them are teachers in public schools.