List of Rwanda Microfinance Cooperative (UMURENGE SACCO)
The 433 deposit-taking Microfinance Cooperatives (UMURENGE SACCO) in Rwanda are:
UMWALIMU SACCO
COOPEC UBAKA
COOPEC ZAMUKA
CYCLE INVESTMENT COOPERATIVE (CIC SACCO)
COOPEC IKIRENGA
MTG ISHEMA SACCO
PFUNDA TEA FARMERS AND WORKERS SACCO (PTFW SACCO)
COMICOKA
SACCO TEA SHAGASHA
COOPERATIVE OF PROGRESS AND FINANCING (CPF) INEZA
COOPEC IMPAMBA
CT NYAMAGABE
COOPEC TWIZIGAMIRE
GATARE TEA FARMERS SACCO
COOJAD BUGESERA
COOPEC INGASHYA
AMIZERO SACCO GISAKURA
MUGANGA SACCO
IKAPAGI
HOPE SACCO MUHIMA
KIGALI SACCO
EJOHEZA SACCO
ICYIZERE SACCO GITEGA
SACCO MAGERAGERE ICYEREKEZO
INDATWA SACCO KANYINYA
KUNGAHARA SACCO NYAKABANDA
URUGWIRO SACCO
DEVELOPMENT VISION SACCO
TRUST SACCO NYAMIRAMBO
GATSATA SACCO AMIZERO
GIKOMERO SACCO(KOPEKUKUGI)
GISOZI SACCO
SACCO ICYEREKEZO KINYINYA
IJABO REMERA SACCO
INDATSIKIRA SACCO KIMIHURURA
JABANA SACCO
UMUNARA SACCO JALI
KACYIRU SACCO
HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO
KOPERATIVE ZIGAMA GURINZWA NDUBA
RUSORORO SACCO
SACCO RUTUNGA
ZAMUKA BUMBOGO SACCO
NDERA SACCO
KANOMBE SACCO
IMBONEZA SACCO
ABAHIZI SACCO
IJABO SACCO KIGARAMA
IJABO SACCO KICUKIRO
VISION SACCO GAHANGA (VISAGA)
ICYEREKEZO MASAKA SACCO
GATENGA SACCO
KAGARAMA SAVINGS AND CREDIT COOPERATIVE
INDAHIGWA SACCO NIBOYE
TWIYUBAKE GASHORA SACCO
ZAMUKA JURU SACCO
KAMABUYE SACCO
JYAMBERE MAREBA SACCO
MAYANGE SACCO
IMBARUTSO MUSENYI SACCO
MWOGO SACCO
IJABO NGERUKA SACCO
NTARAMA SACCO
NYAMATA SACCO
NYARUGENGE ICYEREKEZO SACCO
RILIMA SACCO
RUHUHA DEVELOPMENT SACCO
RWERU SACCO
SHYARA SACCO
IMBONI KIGABIRO SACCO
IMBADUKO MUHAZI SACCO
ICYEREKEZO GISHARI SACCO
MUNYIGINYA SACCO (MY SACCO)
IMPORE MWULIRE SACCO
UMUSARE SACCO-MUSHA
SANGWA SACCO GAHENGERI
FUMBWE SACCO
UMUGISHA SACCO MUYUMBU
COOPEC UBUMWE BWA NYAKARIRO
GWIZA KARENGE SACCO
IZIGAMIRE NZIGE SACCO
IZERE RUBONA SACCO
TWIYUBAKE MUNYAGA SACCO
GAHINI SACCO
KOPERATIVE KUNGAHARA KABARE
SACCO DUKIRE KABARONDO
SACCO ICYOGERE MUKARANGE
DUKIRE SACCO MURAMA
SACCOMURUNDI
MWILI SACCO
SACCO DUKIRE NDEGO
COOPEC ABANZUMUGAYO/NYAMIRAMA
SACCO UMUCYO RUKARA
SACCO RURAMIRA ICYEREKEZO
SACCO TWIFATANYE RWINKWAVU
KOPERATIVE ABIZERANYE Y’I GASHANDA(KOPABIGA)
AMEREKEZO JARAMA SACCO (KOPAJA)
COOPERATIVE IMENA ZA KAREMBO(CIMEKA)
KAZO SAVING AND CREDIT COOPERATIVE
KOPERATIVE ZIGAMA KIBUNGO (KOZIKI)
IBYIZA MUGESERA SACCO
KOTIMU
SACCO INGOBOKA MUTENDERI
REMERA PEOPLE SAVING AND CREDIT COOPERATIVE
KUNGAHARA RUKIRA SACCO
ZIGAMA INTERA RUKUMBELI
RURENGE PEOPLE SACCO (RP SACCO)
KOPERATIVE ZIGAMA ISANGE MURI SAKE(KOZISA)
SACCO NTUSIGARE(KOZINTU)
JYAMBERE GAHARA
VISION SACCO GATORE
IMIRASIRE Y’ITERAMBERE SACCO KIGARAMA
KIGINA SACCO
SACCO RUGERO
SACCO IMBERE HEZA MAHAMA
SACCO HAGURUKA UKORE-MPANGA
UMURUNGA SACCO MUSAZA
MUSHIKIRI SACCO DEVELOPMENT(M.S.D)
SACCO MENYIBANGA
TWUNGURANE SACCO
NYARUBUYE SACCO VISION
IMBARUTSO SACCO GATUNDA
COOPEC ISANGE KARAMA
KARANGAZI UMURENGE SACCO
KATABAGEMU SACCO (CESEKA)
UBUSUGIRE SACCO KIYOMBE
MATIMBA VISION SACCO
UMURABYO SACCO MIMURI
SACCO INGOBOKA MUKAMA
MUSHELI SACCO
NYAGATARE DEVELOPMENT SACCO
KARIBU SACCO RUKOMO
RWEMPASHA SACCO
SACCO TURWANYUBUKENE RWIMIYAGA
SACCO TABAGWE
TURWUBAKANE GASANGE “COTUGA SACCO”
GATSIBO UMURAGE SACCO
GITOKI IZERE SACCO
ISONGA SACCO KABARORE
KAGEYO SACCO IZIGAME
KIRAMURUZI UKURI SACCO
KIZIGURO ISONGA SACCO
UMUHIGO SACCO MUHURA
INGENZI MURAMBI SACCO
NGARAMA ISUNGE SACCO
SACCO TERIMBERE NYAGIHANGA (SACCOTENYA)
REMERA SACCO GIRIBAKWE
RUGARAMA URUMURI SACCO
TUGANEHEZA SACCO RWIMBOGO
SACCO IREMBO RY’UBUKIRE KAYENZI
SACCO IBONEMO GACURABWENGE (SIGA)
SACCO IMARABUKENE NGAMBA
SACCO URUYANGERUKOMA (SUR)
SACCO INYUMBA YA KAYUMBU
SACCO MBONEZISONGA MUSAMBIRA
SACCO URUFUNGUZO RW’UBUKIRE RUNDA
SACCO ICYUZUZO RUGALIKA
SACCO KIRA KARAMA
SACCO ISHEMA RY’UMURYANGO NYAMIYAGA (SISUNYA)
SACCO DUSIZE UBUKENE NYARUBAKA
SACCO MUGINA JYAMBERE (SAMUJYA)
ICYEREKEZO SACCO
SACCO IMBANGUKIRAGUKIRA
SACCO TERIMBERE SHYOGWE
SACCO AMIZERO RONGI
SACCO KORA UTEGANYA
TUGANE SACCO NYABINONI
SACCO DUKIRE NYARUSANGE
SACCO ICYEREKEZO KIYUMBA
SACCO IZIGAMIRE KABACUZI
SACCO WISIGARA MUHANGA
SACCO AMIZERO RUGENDABARI
SACCO INGERI CYEZA
JYAMBERE BWERAMANA
INGENZI SACCO BYIMANA
COOPEC KABAGALI
COOPEC URUBUTO KINIHIRA
IMBONEZACYEREKEZO SACCO
SACCO ABAHIZI DUKIRE MWENDO
NKUNGANIRE
SACCO BATUREBEREHO RUHANGO
SACCO TEGANYA BUSASAMANA
SACCO VISION BUSORO
SACCO JYEJURU CYABAKAMYI
EJO HEZA TUZAMURANA SACCO KIBIRIZI
SACCO UMURAVA KIGOMA
SACCO TUZAMURANE MUKINGO
SACCO MUYIRA DUSHYIGIKIRANE
KOPERATIVE URUMURI RW’AMAJYAMBERE
SACCO GANAHEZA NYAGISOZI
SACCO IGISUBIZO RWABICUMA
COOPEC INGERI GISHAMVU
TUJYANE HUYE SACCO
SACCO TUGEREHEZA KARAMA
TEGANYA KIGOMA SACCO
KINAZI AMIZERO SACCO
COOPEC KIRA MARABA
MBAZI ISONGA SACCO
UBWUGAMO MUKURA SACCO
ISANGE NGOMA SACCO
TUGENDANE N’IGIHE RUHASHYA SACCO
SHISHOZA UKIRE RUSATIRA SACCO
SACCO HIRWA RWANIRO
DUKIRE SIMBI SACCO
RATWA TUMBA SACCO
TERIMBERE KIBIRIZI SACCO
SACCO IZERE GIKONKO
COOPEC URUGERO MUGOMBWA
URUMURI MAMBA SACCO
SACCO INDATWA KIGEMBE
SACCO IMBEREHEZA NDORA
SACCO INDASHYIKIRWA MUGANZA
INTWARI SACCO SAVE
SACCO NYANZA DUKIRE
SACCO TUGANEHEZA GISHUBI
UMUCYO SACCO MUKINDO
ISHYAKA KANSI SACCO
SACCO ITEGANYIRIZE MUSHA
SACCO KIRA BURUHUKIRO
IMBEREHEZA CYANIKA SACCO
INGENZI GASAKA SACCO
SACCO JYAMBERE GATARE
URUFUNGUZO RW’UBUKIRE KADUHA SACCO
SACCO INDAHIGWA KAMEGERI
SACCO INDATWA KIBIRIZI
INDANGAMIRWA KIBUMBWE SACCO (IKS)
SACCO TWITEGANYIRIZE KITABI
ICYEREKEZO MBAZI SACCO (IMS)
INSHUTI Z’I MUGANO SACCO
URUMURI RWA MUSANGE SACCO (UMS)
SACCO INDATWA MUSEBEYA
INDASHYIKIRWA MUSHUBI SACCO
TUBWAMBUKENKOMANE SACCO
SACCO TUZAMURANE TARE
SACCO IBYIRINGIRO UWINKINGI
SACCO JYAMBERE BUSANZE
SACCO AMIZERO CYAHINDA
SACCO IMBONI KIBEHO
SACCO INKINGI Y’ITERAMBERE KIVU
SACCO ITEZIMBERE MATA
SACCO UMURAVA MUGANZA
SACCO WISIGARA MUNINI
SACCO TWIZIGAMIRE NGERA
SACCO ZAMUKA NGOMA
UKURI NYABIMATA SACCO
SACCO EJOHAZAZA NYAGISOZI
SACCO NKUNGANIRE
KORUKIRE RURAMBA
SACCO INOZAMIHIGO RUSENGE
IZUBA SACCO BASE
IMBADUKO SACCO BUREGA
COOPERATIVE DE DEVELOPMENT DE BUSHOKI
GIRUBUKIRE SACCO BUYOGA
IGISABO CYINZUZI SACCO
TERIMBERE SACCO CYUNGO
KOPERATIVETUGIRUBUKIRE KINIHIRA
UMUSINGIMW ITERAMBERE (UMITE)
SACCO COOPEBAMU
MBOGO DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE
IJABO SACCO MURAMBI
SHIRUBUKENE SACCO NGOMA
INGANZA SACCO NTARABANA
COOPERATIVE GARAGAZUMUSARURO RUKOZO
IMBARUTSO SACCO RUSIGA
BADUKA SACCO SHYORONGI
ABAHIZI SACCO TUMBA
SACCO BUSENGO
REBAKURE SACCO
CYABINGO SACCO
SACCO KUNGAHARA GAKENKE
SACCO GASE
UZAZUREBE SACCO
IZIYIGIHE SACCO
KARAMBO VA MU BUKENE SACCO
GIRINTEGO SACCO
SIGARABUKENE SACCO
SACCO INDASHYIKIRWA
SACCO NEW HOPE
SACCO TWAMBUTSANYE
SACCO KATAZA MUYONGWE
INDASHYIKIRWA SACCO
IMBONERA SACCO
SACCO TUGIRE UBUKIRE
UMUSINGI SACCO RUSHASHI
ISONGA SACCO
NDORWA SACCO
SACCO IYUNGURE CYANIKA
UMURUNGA W’ITERAMBERE SACCO CYERU
SACCO AKABANDO
SACCO DUKIRE GATEBE
GITOVU SACCO
KAGOGO VISION SACCO (KAVISACCO)
KINONI SACCO
INDORERWAMO KINYABABA SACCO
COOPEC ICYEREKEZO KIZIMA
DUHORANE IJABO SACCO
SACCO RUGARAMA IMBERE HEZA
UMURAGE SACCO
RUHUNDE SACCO
SACCO REBAKURE RUSARABUYE
RUGEZI SACCO
BUKURE SACCO
IMBARUTSO SACCO
IMBONI SACCO KAGEYO
AGASHYA MANYAGIRO SACCO
WISIGARA RUSHAKI SACCO
TSIMBURA SACCO
KIRA MUTETE SACCO
HASHYUBUKENE SACCO RWAMIKO
BYUMBA SACCO
BWISIGE SACCO
TUGENDANE N’IGIHE SACCO
IBAKWE SACCO MUKARANGE
UMURABYO SACCO NYAMIYAGA
IMIRASIRE Y’ITERAMBERE SACCO RUKOMO
ITEGANYIRIZE SACCO RUTARE
SHIRUBUKENE SACCO RUVUNE
IZIGAMIRE SACCO MIYOVE
TUVUDUKE SACCO RUBAYA
MFASHNKIRE SACCO
INDATWA SACCO MUKO
HIRWA CYUMBA SACCO
IHIRWE BUSOGO SACCO
INYONGERA SACCO
NEW VISION SACCO
UMURAVA SACCO GASHAKI
GATARAGA TWIBUMBE SACCO
KIMONYI SACCO
SACCO ABIHUTA KINIGI
ABAMUHOZA SACCO
SACCO IRENGERE
UMUTUZO SACCO
IGIHONDOHONDOSACCO
INYANGE SACCO
ITEGANYIRIZE SACCO
UMUSINGI RWAZA SACCO
NEZERWA 2020 SACCO
SACCO TWIHUTE KARAGO
KOPERATIVE IMBARUTSO Y’UBUKIRE
IFUMBA Y’UBUKIRE
SACCO KIRA KABATWA
IMIRASIRE SACCO
UMURAVA SACCO BIGOGWE
ISOKO Y’AMAJYAMBERE SACCO
COOPERATIVE D’EPARGNE ET DE CREDIT DE RUGERA
COOPERATIVE D’EPARGNE ET DE CREDIT DE RUREMBO
SACCO KALISIMBI JENDA
DUKIZANYE MULINGA SACCO
SANGA SACCO
TURAHUMURIJWE SACCO
SACCO INTOZAMUCO
SACCO ISANGANIRO
SACCO SERUKA
ICYEZA
ABADAHARANA SACCO
IMBONERA SACCO MUDENDE
UMUSHYIKIRANO SACCO
ISHAKWE SACCO
SACCO UMWIMERERE
INKERAGUTABARA SACCO OF RUBAVU
INTARUTWA SACCO YA RUGERERO
TERIMBERE SACCO BWIRA
UMUSUNGI SACCO GATUMBA
HINDIRO SACCO
SACCO KABAYA JYAMBERE
UMUKORE SACCO
SACCO TUGANE HEZA
MATYAZO SACCO
HAGURUKA UKORE SACCO-MUHANDA
MUHORORO SACCO
JYAMBERE NDARO SACCO
MAGIRIRANE SACCO
INYANGE SACCO NSIBO
GIRUBUKIRE SACCO SOVU
SACCO IBAKWE RYA BONEZA
SACCO ABESAMIHIGO BA GIHANGO
SACCO NGWINO UREBE KIGEYO
SACCO TUZIGAMIRE ABACU KIVUMU
SACCO IMBERE HEZA MANIHIRA
SACCOTUGENDANEN IGIHEMUKURA
INDASHYIKIRWA ZA MURUNDA SACCO
IMBANZAMIHIGO SACCO
SACCO TERIMBERE MUSHONYI
SACCO DUFITUMURAVA MUSHUBATI
SACCO NYABIRASI_RUTSIRO
SACCO DUKUNGAHARE RUHANGO
SACCO ICYEREKEZO RUSEBEYA
BWISHYURA SACCO
INDATSIKIRA SACCO GASHALI
GISHYITA SACCO
SACCO GITESI
DUHASHYUBUKENE SACCO MUBUGA
IMPARANIRAKURUSHA
SACCO NGWINO UREBE
MUTUNTU SACCO
SACCO RUBENGERA
RUGABANO SACCO
SACCO ISONGA RUGANDA
TWIYUBAKE RWANKUBA
TWUMBA SACCO
BUSHENGE SACCO
TERIMBERE RUHARAMBUGA SACCO
BUSHEKERI SACCO
DUFATANYE KARENGERA SACCO
NYABITEKERI SACCO
SHANGI SACCO
CYATO SACCO
KAGANO SACCO
UNGUKA GIHOMBO SACCO
AMIZERO MACUBA SACCO
SACCO WISIGARA RANGIRO
TWISUNGANE MAHEMBE SACCO
TWITEZIMBERE KILIMBI SACCO
KANJONGO SACCO
KARAMBI VISION SACCO
IMBATURABUKUNGU SACCO
TUBEHO SACCO BWEYEYE
URUYANGE SACCO
TUBEKWISONGA SACCO
IREMBO SACCO
UMUSINGI SACCO GIHUNDWE
UBUMWE SACCO
INDATWA GITAMBI SACCO
NKAMIRA SACCO
MASHYUZA SACCO
HUZA SACCO
SACCO REBIMBERE NKANKA
NGIRANKUGIRE SACCO
SACCO NTUKABUMWE NKUNGU
NTUSIGARE SACCO
SACCO ABESAMIHIGO NYAKARENZO
NZAHAHA INTSINZI SACCO
BAHO SACCO
Microfinance Cooperative (Umurenge SACCO) in Rwanda
Umurenge SACCO in Rwanda: Complete 2025 Overview of Growth, Impact, and Challenges
How Umurenge SACCO microfinance cooperatives are transforming rural Rwanda through financial inclusion, savings, and affordable loans. Explore history, services, benefits, and challenges.
Umurenge SACCO in Rwanda
The Umurenge Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) is one of Rwanda’s most ambitious and successful financial inclusion initiatives. Launched in 2009 by the Government of Rwanda, its mission was simple but powerful: ensure every Rwandan sector (administrative unit) has a local, accessible cooperative bank.
By the end of 2024, Rwanda had 416 Umurenge SACCOs — one in each sector — serving over 4 million members and holding more than RWF 200 billion in deposits (National Bank of Rwanda, 2024). These cooperatives are community-owned, meaning members are both clients and shareholders.
Historical Background
Before 2009, most rural Rwandans had to travel long distances to access basic financial services. Recognizing that this was a major barrier to economic development, the government introduced Umurenge SACCOs as part of the Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP) — a broader poverty reduction strategy.
Key milestones include:
2009: Official launch of Umurenge SACCO program.
2014: Nationwide coverage achieved, with at least one SACCO in each sector.
2017: Integration of SACCO operations under the Union des Coopératives Umurenge SACCOs (U-SACCO) for better governance.
2020–2024: Digitalization drive, including mobile banking services and biometric member registration.
Structure and Governance
Umurenge SACCOs are member-owned cooperatives operating under the supervision of the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR).
Governance includes:
General Assembly: All members with voting rights.
Board of Directors: Elected by members to oversee operations.
Credit and Supervisory Committees: Ensuring transparency and accountability.
Managerial Staff: Handling day-to-day operations.
Key Services Offered
Umurenge SACCOs provide a range of financial products tailored to rural communities:
Savings Accounts: Secure storage for personal and group savings.
Microloans: For agriculture, small trade, education, and emergencies.
Group Lending: Loans to cooperatives or community-based groups.
Financial Literacy Training: Helping members understand budgeting and debt management.
Mobile Banking: Allowing deposits, withdrawals, and transfers via mobile money.
Impact on Financial Inclusion
The Umurenge SACCO initiative has significantly increased Rwanda’s financial inclusion rate from around 21% in 2008 to over 78% in 2024 (BNR Financial Inclusion Report).
Notable impacts:
Rural Empowerment: Farmers can now access credit without leaving their communities.
Women’s Participation: Over 55% of members are women.
Savings Culture: Increased household savings rates and reduced reliance on informal lenders.
Challenges Facing Umurenge SACCOs
Despite their achievements, SACCOs face some ongoing challenges:
Loan Default Risks: Especially in agriculture during poor harvest seasons.
Operational Inefficiencies: Some SACCOs lack professional management skills.
Fraud and Mismanagement: Isolated cases of poor governance have eroded trust in certain areas.
Limited Technological Infrastructure: Some rural branches still operate manually.
Government Support and Reforms
The government continues to strengthen SACCOs through:
Capacity Building: Training managers and board members.
Digital Integration: Linking SACCOs into a core banking system for real-time transactions.
Capital Support: Providing funds to increase loan capacity.
Policy Oversight: Regular audits by BNR and the Rwanda Cooperative Agency.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, the government plans to:
Fully digitize all SACCO operations by 2027.
Expand loan products for SMEs and youth entrepreneurs.
Introduce insurance products for farmers through SACCO networks.
Encourage mergers into larger cooperative banks for better efficiency.
FAQs about Umurenge SACCO in Rwanda
1. What is the main purpose of Umurenge SACCO? To provide affordable and accessible financial services at the sector level, especially in rural areas.
2. Who can join a SACCO? Any resident of the sector, regardless of income, can become a member by purchasing shares.
3. Are SACCO loans interest-free? No. Interest rates vary, typically ranging from 14%–20% annually.
4. Can SACCOs offer mobile banking? Yes, many have partnered with MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money.
5. Are deposits safe in SACCOs? Yes, SACCOs are regulated by the BNR, but members should choose well-managed cooperatives.
The Umurenge SACCO program stands as a model for rural financial inclusion in Africa. By placing a microfinance cooperative in every sector, Rwanda has empowered millions to save, borrow, and invest in their future. While operational challenges remain, the path forward—through digitalization, better governance, and product diversification—promises even greater impact.
