The Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) model is an initiative that empowers women in Namutumba District, Uganda, to build sustainable lives through collective saving, small loans, and mutual support. It originated from the Namutumba Agriculture for Life (NAFL) project, which began in 2018 to address food insecurity through sustainable farming. VSLAs are self-managed financial groups typically made up of 15–30 women who save together weekly, access small loans, and create emergency and education funds for their families. In communities where formal banking is unavailable, VSLAs offer women the opportunity to start businesses, pay school fees and healthcare costs, and develop leadership and financial literacy skills. Members save between UGX 2,000 and UGX 50,000 per week and engage in income-generating activities such as tailoring, poultry farming, baking, hairdressing, and managing small retail shops. Most of these businesses were launched after joining a VSLA, proving the model’s powerful impact.
The VSLA program is currently led by Mpiiya Scovia Noam, a graduate in development and community work with over seven years of experience supporting vulnerable communities in Uganda. Scovia previously worked with organizations like the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), where she focused on empowering female children with access to education and health, and with the district probation office, advocating for women’s rights. Currently serving as the Coordinator and Social Worker at CoCuDi, she leads the mobilization, formation, and training of women’s VSLA groups, reaching eventually 15 groups and 449 women across the district. These groups meet weekly on scheduled days, and each follows a structured agenda that includes savings, loan disbursement, repayments, emergency fund contributions, and recordkeeping.
The Namutumba Innovation Agriculture Projects works toward a clear goal: to create a resilient and self-reliant rural community where women and youth live sustainable lives and development. Its mission is to empower vulnerable and underserved populations by promoting sustainable agriculture, financial inclusion and gender equity. Through the VSLA model, CoCuDi is not only improving individual lives, but we are transforming communities from the ground up.