The Director of the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA), Dr. Patrice Mugenzi, stated that professionalism will go hand in hand with modernization, taking into account global advancements in technology, including the use of cashless systems and ensuring that cooperative activities are recorded digitally.
Dr. Patrice Mugenzi He said, “The staff of cooperatives will increasingly become more professional, which will also make it easier for us to monitor their work and provide advice for their development.”
Dr. Patrice Mugenzi continued, explaining that there are various challenges within cooperatives, including poor management of cooperative resources.
He stated, “The first step taken was to revise the regulations governing cooperatives. Cooperatives are no longer viewed only through the lens of good governance, but also economic development.”
He added, “The economy must be safeguarded, and the law includes provisions for taking action against those who embezzle cooperative funds.”
He further explained that the new law on cooperatives requires cooperative leaders to declare their assets to avoid personal accumulation of wealth.
He said, “Assets must first be declared and monitored to ensure that the leaders’ wealth is not sourced from cooperative funds. This is one of the measures taken to monitor the growth of wealth among cooperative leaders.”
He also mentioned that the new law imposes stricter penalties on cooperative leaders and treasurers, and if these penalties are enforced, some of the challenges they face will be reduced.
Nyirandimubanzi Jacqueline, from the Rushashi Coffee Lovers Cooperative in Gakenke District, mentioned that they united for progress.
She said, “We came together to help our cooperative grow, and we achieved that. In 2024, we gained legal recognition, and now we are officially recognized by law.”
She continued, stating that they have 110,000 members, both men and women.
She said, “We have made significant progress, and we attribute all this to good leadership, as development is evident among all our members.”
The Governor of the Northern Province, Maurice Mugabowagahunde, the guest of honor, praised the role of cooperatives in advancing the country.
Mugabowagahunde Maurice, Northern Province Governor He said, “We commend your role as members of various cooperatives in contributing to the development of our country. There are still challenges, such as lack of markets for products and embezzlement of funds, and these issues must be addressed to ensure sustainable solutions. Additionally, you should continue fostering a culture of working together in cooperatives. Members should also understand how their cooperative operates, including how profits are made, and be informed about everything. Whenever challenges arise, we as the leadership will be there to assist in resolving them.”
International Cooperative Day is an annual event that began in 1995, officially recognized by the United Nations.
This day is celebrated globally on July 6 every year, but in Rwanda, it was decided to observe it on October 11 each year due to other ongoing activities during that time.
The day was first celebrated in Rwanda in 2005, and this year marks the 19th celebration.
To date, there are over 10,000 cooperatives in Rwanda, with more than five million members.
