Secretary General of WALIMU is Carol Bainemaryo (c) training teachers how the new system works during their training on Saturday.
KUUMI DISTRICT, Uganda — The WALIMU Cooperative Union has introduced a new digital financial platform, Save for Prosperity, designed to ease loan access and improve financial services for teachers across Uganda. The initiative was unveiled during a day-one training session held at Kuumi District headquarters on Saturday, August 16, 2025, attended by hundreds of teachers from Kuumi Progressive Teachers’ SACCO, government officials, and education leaders.
Speaking at the launch, WALIMU National Chairperson Stephen Nabende said the platform is a game-changer for teachers, enabling them to apply for and receive loans directly from their smartphones without the usual delays.
“This new platform is going to help teachers access money from their respective districts using their smartphones, saving time and reducing costs while applying for loans,” Nabende said.
He noted that the system will also track loan defaulters to protect SACCOs from losses.
“This new system won’t issue loans to defaulters. It will regulate how much money is given by first verifying all loan histories of applicants,” he added.
Nabende further revealed that WALIMU has introduced a new health insurance scheme, under which teachers will contribute only UGX 150,000 per year while WALIMU tops up the balance, allowing teachers to access quality healthcare from accredited hospitals.
The WALIMU Secretary General, Carol Bainemaryo, praised Kuumi Progressive Teachers’ SACCO for its strong repayment record.
WALIMU Co-operative Union National Chairperson Stephen Nabende (L) with the team handover a prize to the Kuumi DEO Sarah Adongo after mastering the system.
“WALIMU gave Kuumi Progressive SACCO UGX 170 million and 95 percent has already been repaid. In two to three months, they will have cleared the balance. That’s why we chose Kuumi as our pilot district,” Bainemaryo explained.
She confirmed that starting Monday, August 18, 2025, registered teachers in Kuumi will be the first to access digital loans within 24 hours, with plans to expand the service countrywide. WALIMU is also setting up a regional office in Soroti to extend services across the eastern region.
Kuumi District Education Officer Sarah Adongo welcomed the development, urging teachers to embrace the digital service responsibly.
“This is a very good initiative, but teachers must use these loans to grow their businesses, not waste them in markets and bars,” Adongo cautioned.
She emphasized that the new system will reduce cases of teachers absconding from work in search of loans from commercial banks.
The digital finance platform will officially be launched next week in Kuumi District, making it the first pilot area. WALIMU, which serves over 100,000 teachers nationwide, continues to roll out projects aimed at improving the welfare and livelihoods of teachers.
