BASU Rural Women Savings and Credit Association (BASU SACCO) was established in 2010 and registered under the Cooperative Societies Act of Uganda, holding **Registration No. 9494**.
We were founded with a deep commitment to addressing widespread poverty and financial exclusion facing rural women in Kasese and neighboring districts along the Rwenzori region. Before 2010, rural women had no access to secure savings options, and commercial bank loans carried predatory interest rates of up to 30%, driving families into debt traps.
In response, BASU started as a small, informal collective of 30 women who pooled their weekly cash in a metallic cashbox. Over the last decade, through dedicated leadership, audited transparency, and community support, we have expanded to serve 2,000 active members and accumulated robust cooperative capital, completely transforming the financial landscape for local families.
Our work is guided by standard international co-operative values, combined with a deep commitment to sustainable African community development.
To build an economically resilient, food-secure, and self-sufficient women's community along Uganda's Rwenzori region by providing inclusive financial services, vocational skill training, environmental advocacy, and enterprise incubation.
To become a model women-led financial co-operative in East Africa, leading a community where underserved rural women and youth have equal economic opportunities, safe financial reserves, and resilient livelihood strategies in harmony with nature.
Serving remote, mountainous, and vulnerable parishes along the Rwenzori mountain range in Western Uganda.
Western Uganda's Rwenzori region is characterized by steep slopes, high vulnerability to flooding and landslides, and remote mountain villages. These geographical challenges isolate rural families, cut them off from commercial banking infrastructure, and make livelihood development difficult.
BASU operates directly in these rugged terrain areas across Kasese, Bunyangabu, and Kabarole districts. Through mobile credit desks, local VSLA coordinators, and decentralized training programs, we bring financial services and development activities directly to mountain-side parishes and valley communities.
Due to steep gradients and soil fragility, we train member collectives in sustainable, terraced farming, crop preservation, and honey production, which provides secure household incomes without environmental degradation.
By targeting geographically isolated pockets, BASU ensures that financial inclusion and social protection reach households that would otherwise be entirely excluded.
Unlike standard financial institutions, BASU actively initiates, manages, and executes community development projects funded by member savings and international partners.
We trained over 500 women farmers in modern agronomy and crop management. We purchased a cooperative milling machine and packaging equipment, allowing members to process raw maize into packaged flour, which multiplied their net profit margin by 300% and secured community food stores.
To support forest preservation in the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains, we supplied 250 beehives to local women's groups. We provided safety gears, centrifuges, and raw honey harvesting gear, creating an alternative clean livelihood while supporting local bee populations.
Partnering with local manufacturers, we distributed energy-efficient clay-lined cook stoves to 1,200 rural households. These stoves reduce wood fuel usage by 60%, drastically cutting down deforestation rates in Rwenzori and protecting women from toxic smoke inhalation.
Transport costs represent a huge barrier for rural traders. We funded motorcycles for dynamic women traders to transport agricultural produce from mountain-side farms directly to municipal markets in Kasese town, drastically reducing transit losses and middlemen dependency.
BASU is founded by 30 visionary rural women pooling weekly savings under a metallic cashbox in Kasese.
Formally registered under the Co-operative Societies Act of Uganda (Reg No. 9494). Membership reaches 400.
Launches the Maize Farming and value milling project, establishing our first local mill in Kasese municipality.
Introduces environmental projects, distributing 1,200 eco cook stoves and seeding 250 beehives across sub-counties.
Active membership crosses 2,000. Launching a fully transparent online fundraising program to expand grassroots capital.
