Through the Lens: 200 Photos from the KWIHAZA Cooperative Graduation Ceremony
On June 19, 2026, Hotel Splendid in Muhanga hosted a graduation and certificate-awarding ceremony for 37 cooperatives that outperformed the others and were classified in the highest category, Category A, among 60 cooperatives supported by UGAMA through the KWIHAZA Project.
The remaining cooperatives were placed in other categories by the aim to recognize and appreciate the successfully applied the knowledge and skills they acquired through various capacity-building programs.
The ceremony attended by several distinguished guests, including Mr. Bizimana Eric, Vice Mayor of Muhanga District in charge of Economic Development; Dr. Faridah BUKIRWA,the KWIHAZA Project manager ; a representative of Luxembourg AID & Development, also EU, Mr. NGOGA Innocent, Cooperative Development Officer at RCA; representatives of the KWIHAZA Project and UGAMA; cooperative leaders.
(highlits)
On behalf of Muhanga District, Vice Mayor Bizimana Eric reminded cooperative members of the meaning and purpose of a cooperative.
He said:
“A cooperative is a group of people who come together to work collectively by pooling their resources and activities with the common goal of improving their lives. You may have resources, but without knowledge, those resources can become useless.”
He also praised the role of UGAMA and the KWIHAZA Project in promoting the economic development of citizens by strengthening cooperatives and supporting them in their efforts to overcome poverty.
He added:
“That is why we thank UGAMA through this project called KWIHAZA. They looked ahead and asked themselves: We have cooperatives that may have resources, but do they have sufficient knowledge? We appreciate the activities that have been carried out and the positive changes we expect to see among the members of these cooperatives.”
Vice Mayor Bizimana also explained the meaning of the word KWIHAZA:
“It means self-reliance. True self-reliance is achieved through food security as we fight malnutrition, through knowledge, and through economic empowerment.”
He therefore encouraged the cooperatives to continue putting into practice the lessons they had learned so that they could contribute more effectively to the development of their members and of the country as a whole.
Mr. NGOGA Innocent, Cooperative Development Officer at RCA, commended UGAMA and the KWIHAZA Project for their contribution to cooperative development.
He noted that the graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone, as it was the first event of its kind organized to recognize cooperatives following training and an evaluation of how they had applied the acquired knowledge and skills. He also called for continued follow-up and monitoring to ensure that the training outcomes produce lasting and sustainable results.
In her remarks, Dr.BUKIRWA reflected on the journey of the KWIHAZA Project and its contribution to strengthening the capacities of cooperatives engaged in fruit and vegetable farming, fish farming, and fisheries explained that main objective was to help them become self-reliant in governance, financial management, planning, and business development through the marketplace, also praised the implementation of the project.
Representatives of the cooperatives stated that the training had helped them improve management practices, increase productivity, and manage resources more effectively. Some members shared testimonies showing how income generated through their cooperatives enabled them to improve their livelihoods, pay school fees for their children, and enhance the welfare of their families.
https://www.facebook.com/ugama.org
The ceremony concluded with the awarding of certificates to the 37 cooperatives that excelled and were placed in Category A among all 60 cooperatives that received capacity-building support.
The recipients expressed their commitment to applying the knowledge and skills they acquired in order to achieve self-reliance, improve the welfare of their members, and contribute to the development of the nation.
more photo in details are HERE
It is a historicall Evenet!