Rwanda: SACCOSs Receive Computers

Fourteen Sector Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), in Huye District, last week, received computers and printers, worth about Rwf10 million, from the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA).

It is expected that the equipment will assist the SACCOs in speeding up their services, including submitting timely reports on their activities.

Due to lack of equipment, some savings and credit cooperatives could not meet their clients' expectations, including meeting deadline to file reports on their activities, the coops' managers, observed while receiving the donation.

"It was very difficult for us, especially when we had so many customers to serve. Checking everyone's hard documents derailed the process. We hope these computers will help us to improve the quality of services we offer," said Ruth Nyinawumuntu, who works with SACCO Amizero in Kinazi sector.

Valentine Nkuzumuremyi of Mbazi Saving and Credit Cooperative said: "These equipment will facilitate timely reporting on our operations. We used to take long hours compiling documents but now everything will be available in a short period of time".

Huye District Mayor, Eugene Kayiranga Muzuka, observed that the donation will help Umurenge SACCOs to grow.

"SACCOs were considered as small cooperatives, with no ICT facilities... These materials are distributed in order to equip them with the current technologies which will help them extend their products, improve their services, increase the number of customers, offer timely services and grow into strong financial institutions," he said.

Bernard Rugambage, RCA's officer in-charge of SACCOs, observed that the donation is part of efforts to improve the capacity of the Umurenge Savings and Credit Cooperatives.

"We are looking into ways of speeding up SACCOs' services, moving from manual work to digital. It is a way of integrating ICT in their daily activities and professionalising their work," Rugambage said.