EBO SACCO leans on Equity Bank to drive financial inclusion

January 9, 2026 in Companies, Financial Services by Editor

EBO SACCO has strengthened its push for inclusive finance with a growing partnership portfolio anchored by Equity Bank, positioning the cooperative as one of Western Uganda’s fastest-expanding microfinance institutions.

The SACCO, which began in 2000 as a small community savings group in Bwizibwera, Mbarara District, was last year awarded the 2025 Equity Bank Pinnacle Award, a recognition of its progress in governance, innovation, and linkage banking. The award comes as EBO formalises its operations under a Bank of Uganda licence and expands its footprint to more than 35 districts with 19 branches.

EBO’s model—where customers are shareholders—has been central to its growth. Chief Executive Officer Joseph Mugume said the cooperative’s structure has helped it maintain trust and scale services among smallholder farmers, low-income households, the elderly, and refugees, groups historically underserved by commercial banks.

The SACCO has increasingly turned to technology to reduce transaction costs and broaden access. Digital tools, including EBO Merchant Pay and the EBO Verve card developed with Interswitch, support cash-light operations and have improved service delivery at rural branches.

But the biggest shift has come through EBO’s linkage banking arrangement with Equity Bank. The partnership connects SACCO members to larger credit lines, secure accounts, and advanced banking services that EBO alone cannot provide. Mugume said Equity’s national network and technical support have boosted the SACCO’s credibility and strengthened compliance, while allowing it to retain its cooperative identity.

EBO’s loan portfolio remains heavily tied to real-economy activity. Facilities for agriculture, banana improvement, solar energy, water tanks, boda-boda financing, and group lending reflect the income patterns of its members across Western Uganda. The SACCO is also pushing savings mobilisation, guided by the principle that long-term security depends on early planning.

Governance and accountability remain core priorities. Mugume said protecting member deposits was critical to safeguarding the institution’s future and keeping regulators confident in its operations.

With new branches planned in Central Uganda, EBO SACCO is positioning itself for national scale. Management says the Equity partnership will remain central to that growth, helping bridge grassroots financial systems with the country’s mainstream banking infrastructure.