Support Our Mission Join BASU SACCO

Governance & Trust

Built on Credibility

Transparency & Democratic Control

Unlike standard commercial microfinances, BASU SACCO is entirely member-owned and member-led. We operate on democratic co-operative values where every member has a voice, a vote, and a shared stake in our collective growth.

Core Co-operative Principles We Live By

1
Voluntary and Open Membership: Membership is open to all rural women, youth groups, and micro-entrepreneurs in the Rwenzori region, regardless of social, political, or religious background.
2
Democratic Member Control: We practice absolute democratic control: 1 Member = 1 Vote. Major policies, dividend allocations, and leadership structures are voted on during our Annual General Meeting (AGM).
3
Autonomy and Independence: BASU SACCO is an autonomous, self-help organization. Our agreements with external partners, donors, or government agencies are designed to ensure that member-owned democratic control remains untouched.
4
Cooperation Among Co-operatives: We collaborate with local agricultural unions, clean-energy groups, and micro-loan cooperatives to build a wider supportive net for our members.
Legal Standing

Registration & Statutory Compliance

BASU SACCO is legally registered as BASU Rural Women Savings and Credit Association under **Co-operative Society Registration No. 9494** with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives of Uganda.

We operate in full compliance with the Co-operative Societies Act Cap 112 and the Uganda Cooperative Societies Regulations. This includes filing annual statutory returns, maintaining transparency, and submitting financial audits to the registrar of cooperatives to ensure public and institutional accountability.

Compliance Indicators

  • Ministry Audits: Annual financial audit reviews by registered government registrars.
  • Statutory Returns: Regular compliance filings and operational updates to the Ministry.
  • Legal Standing: Active, compliant registration status under Uganda Co-operative law.
Financial Control

Donor Accountability & Segregation of Funds

Maintaining clear financial boundaries to ensure donor and partner resources go directly to designated community development and resilience programs.

Strict Fund Segregation

BASU SACCO enforces absolute segregation between member-owned savings/credit capital and international donor funds.

Donor contributions are routed to separate, restricted program accounts. These funds are used solely to support non-credit initiatives (e.g., girls' sanitation kits, agricultural value-addition milling machinery, climate adaptation training) and are never commingled with regular commercial credit portfolios.

Transparent Reporting & Audits

To preserve transparency, we submit all accounts to independent annual external audits by licensed accounting practitioners.

Donor-funded projects receive detailed project-specific reports showing expenditure matches, activity milestones, and tangible community impact. Program updates and audits are presented openly during the SACCO General Meeting.

Protection & Ethics

Our Member Protection Policy

Our commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and economic safety of every rural woman and household in our cooperative.

Preventing Debt Traps

We evaluate applicant business models and cashflows to prevent over-indebtedness. Members must attend financial literacy and budgeting coaching prior to receiving business loans.

Clear Pricing & Fees

We provide complete disclosure of loan terms, repayment frequencies, and flat interest rates. There are no hidden charges, administrative markups, or predatory application fees.

Dignified Treatment

All field operations, credit officers, and group leaders follow strict guidelines. We strictly prohibit any coercive collection methods, predatory asset seizure, or harassment of members.

Our Board

Democratic Leadership & Board Oversight

The BASU Board of Directors consists of nine dedicated members democratically elected from our active membership list. The Board is comprised of 100% local women entrepreneurs and agricultural leaders, ensuring that the SACCO's strategic policies align perfectly with the needs of the community.

Board of Directors

Elected every three years by our members. Responsible for overseeing standard policies, approving major credit reserves, reviewing audits, and representing member interests.

100% Women Representative

Supervisory Committee

An independent internal audit committee of three members, responsible for checking daily ledgers, verifying cash holdings, and reporting directly to the General Assembly.

Independent Internal Audit