Tree Growers Urged to Join Cooperatives to Boost Value Addition and Increase Profits

Rukungiri: Tree growers and timber traders in Rukungiri and the surrounding districts have been encouraged to join the Rukungiri District Tree Growers and Timber Traders Cooperative Society Limited to improve the value of their trees and timber products and avoid being exploited by middlemen.

The call was made on Friday June 27, 2026 by the Chairperson of Rukungiri District Tree Growers and Timber Traders Cooperative Society Limited, Innocent Ninsiima, while addressing members during the society’s 6th Annual General Meeting held at the cooperative’s head offices at Kagogo Timber Yard in Western Division, Rukungiri Municipality.

Ninsiima said the cooperative has modern timber processing machines that help members add value to their timber products. He noted that by working together under one cooperative, tree growers and timber traders can produce high-quality products, compete in both local and international markets, increase their incomes, and reduce cases of being cheated by buyers.

He explained that the cooperative’s main objectives include promoting value addition to quality timber products, building a sustainable market, strengthening members’ financial capacity, and improving networking and collaboration with different stakeholders and partners.

The Rukungiri District Senior Commercial Officer, Caroline Atuhaire, advised members to always use commercial banks for all financial transactions to promote accountability and make auditing easier.

She encouraged members to pay through the bank to reduce financial mismanagement and urged the cooperative to be innovative by improving the quality and uniqueness of its products in order to stand out in the market. She also called on members to continue working together for the development of the cooperative.

Speaking at the same meeting, the Rukungiri District Senior Forestry Officer, Arthur Twinomujuni, urged tree growers and timber traders to properly plan their tree planting, manage and maintain their plantations well, and handle timber carefully to improve product quality and increase returns.

Twinomujuni also encouraged stronger partnerships between the cooperative, local government, and other organizations to strengthen the forestry and timber industry.

He further urged members to maintain high-quality timber production and make good use of the machinery available to improve efficiency and increase their market competitiveness.

The Vice Chairperson of the Cooperative Society, Edward Byamukama, thanked the cooperative’s development partners for their continued support through funding, training, and technical assistance.

He recognized support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Government of Uganda.