BURERA- The Akabando Savings and Credit Cooperative-SACCO based in Gahunga sector, Burera District, yesterday began to extend soft to rural residents to facilitate them to set up small scale income generating activities.

Akabando has accumulated over Frw30m, from over 1,100 members, and acquired a definitive accreditation which authorises it to give out loans to members.

The chairperson of the SACCO, Zephrin Nduwayezu, called upon the registered members to acquire the loans and invest into agriculture and business related ventures.

"This is a good opportunity for everyone to access capital and engage in income generating projects, people now understand the importance of saving, it’s a new culture, we hope and believe it will mark the beginning of a long journey towards poverty eradication among our people,” Nduwayezu said.

It was a moment of jubilation as seven members received loans and narrated how they began saving with SACCO and reinvestment of their savings.

"I have decided to get money to pay school fees for all my children, I will pay back slowly when my harvest is ready, I have a big field on which I have grown Irish potatoes,” said Claudine Uwimana, one of the beneficiaries. 

Local authorities say that the SACCOs have empowered women economically and helped them to manage their incomes, while reducing domestic quarrels, owing to their financial independence. 

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