Walimu Union charts new path to financial independence for teachers

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Leaders of teachers’ SACCOs from across the country, under the Walimu Cooperative Union, were on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, equipped with new policies and practical skills aimed at strengthening teachers financial independence.

The teachers gathered at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine Retreat Centre, also known as Kyoto in Wakiso district, under the theme, “Through the Chalkboard to the Money Economy”.

Teachers listening attentively and taking notes during the meeting at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine Retreat Centre, also known as Kyoto in Wakiso district. (Courtesy photo)

Since 2014, the government has injected sh25 billion into Walimu Cooperative Union to support the establishment and growth of teachers’ SACCOs and help teachers reduce their heavy reliance on salaries.

Today, the union has grown to over 280 teachers’ SACCOs nationwide, representing teachers in primary, secondary, technical and tertiary institutions.

Carolyn Atai Kiyai, the General Manager of Walimu, said the training is tied to the government’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) agenda, which emphasises economic commercialisation and utilisation of idle public assets.

For teachers, that means schools, traditionally seen only as centres of learning, must increasingly become centres of production.

“Schools should not just teach. The land and infrastructure must generate additional income for teachers and extra revenue for the government,” Kiyai said. “We have selected 100 districts to pilot a district-based model where teachers agree on a single enterprise such as poultry, cattle fattening, groundnuts or coffee, which will be produced and branded by the district’s SACCO.”

According to Kiyai, Walimu’s first phase, launched over a decade ago, focused on establishing SACCOs and providing teachers with cheap credit. By 2023, the union had achieved its target of forming 285 SACCOs nationwide. Yet despite the expansion, many SACCOs struggled with challenges common across the cooperative sector: limited ICT systems, multiple borrowing by members, poor savings culture, and widespread consumption of loans instead of investing in productive ventures.

“Teachers would borrow and end up using the money for school fees or consumption. Monitoring individual projects was nearly impossible,” said Stephen Nabenda, National Chairperson of Walimu Cooperative Union. “Now, Phase II requires collective production. When a SACCO in a district chooses an enterprise, every teacher participates. It becomes easy for government and district stakeholders to monitor and ensure value for money.”

Nabenda Stephen, National Chairperson of Walimu Cooperative Union, addressing teachers attending the event at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine Retreat Centre, also known as Kyoto in Wakiso district. (Courtesy photo)

In the new model, Walimu is working closely with district commercial officers, Chief Administrative Officers, town clerks and technical staff to guide teachers in enterprise management, marketing and sustainability.

The union is also investing in ICT systems to curb multiple borrowing and increase transparency.

Walimu’s ambition, however, goes far beyond improving SACCO operations.

To Teopista Birungi Mayanja, the union’s chairperson review committee, Phase II marks a turning point toward teachers becoming a major productive force in the national economy.

“When we began this fund, our aim was to create a teachers’ economic strategy so that teachers can settle in class, teach well, and live with dignity,” Birungi said. “But consumption has been high and production low. Now we want teachers producing food, poultry, tourism products, even minerals, items that can be found on supermarket shelves branded as ‘teachers’ flour,’ ‘teachers’ eggs’ or ‘teachers’ chicken’.”

Birungi believes that with a mindset shift toward saving, buying shares and producing, teachers can transition from consumers to earners with assets.

Teachers listening attentively and taking notes during the meeting at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine Retreat Centre, also known as Kyoto in Wakiso district. (Courtesy photo)

She argues that this will strengthen their bargaining position with the government, not only for salary matters but for increased development funding.

“We want to grow our fund from sh25 billion to over sh150 billion. Instead of always negotiating for salary increments, we should negotiate for financing to expand enterprises that will bring long-term stability,” she added.

Transforming the profession

For years, low salaries, debt burdens and financial instability have fuelled unrest among teachers and affected classroom performance. Walimu’s new strategy seeks to reverse this trend by building a foundation of economic independence.