OVERVIEW of UGAMA
Historical background
Umuryango wo Gushyigikira AMAkoperative in acronyms UGAMA, is National Non-Governmental Organization for Support to Cooperatives, community-based organizations (CBOs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). UGAMA was created on July 1st, 1985 by the Centre of cooperatives trainings and research (IWACU), and COOPBBU a Belgian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). In the beginning it was known as CSC (Centre de Service aux Coopératives) and it was set as a Centre to provide services to cooperatives and groupings helping them to manage better their ventures, to reach the necessary technical knowledge and financial means. It is on 11/12/1988 when both Centre IWACU and COOPBBU decided to hand over all properties of the CSC to local organization for support to cooperatives “UGAMA asbl – Umuryango wo Gushyigikira AMAkoperative”. UGAMA was created by 15 members of Cooperatives as a Development Agent and was approved as a non-profit association by ministerial Order No. 477/05 of 22/11/1990 by the Minister of Justice.
To comply with Law No. 04/2012 of 17/02/2012 on the organization and functioning of national non-governmental organizations (NNGOs), UGAMA has acquired a certificate of registration No. 477/05 of 28/05/2013 as a national NGO issued by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB)”. UGAMA is in the process of updating the existing bylaw to comply with the new Law n° 058/2024 of 20/06/2024 governing non-governmental organizations in Rwanda.
Global objective
UGAMA has the goal objective of supporting cooperatives and small and medium Enterprise (SMEs) to have a sound participation and a say in the socio-economic development of the country.
Vison
The vision of UGAMA is then stated as follows:
“To be a high-performing institution in the area of the population’s socio-economic development, through the professionalization of cooperatives as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, in the area of business”
Mission
The mission of UGAMA is “Community transformation through the promotion of professional cooperatives and, small and medium-sized enterprises”.
This mission is realized through Four outcomes to:
- Improve capacities of cooperative organizations and small/medium sized-enterprises (SMEs), in terms of effective governance, financial management and business development.
- Enhance capacities of cooperative organizations and small/medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the areas of access to finance, and market linkages.
- Build capacities of cooperatives and small and medium enterprises, in matters relating to advocacy, partnerships and networking with stakeholders.
- To strengthen the capacity of ‘’UGAMA’’ organization, so that it can be more effective Areas of intervention