Who regulates my SACCO in Uganda? UMRA vs Bank of Uganda vs Registrar of Cooperatives
Which body regulates a Ugandan SACCO depends mostly on size. Here is how the Registrar of Cooperatives, UMRA, and Bank of Uganda fit together — including UMRA’s reported, in-transition move into the Ministry of Finance.
Uganda has more than one body with a role in SACCO regulation, and which one applies to a given SACCO depends mostly on size. Here's how the three fit together.
Registrar of Cooperatives — every SACCO, regardless of size
Every SACCO registers as a cooperative society under the Cooperative Societies Act, with the Registrar of Cooperatives, before anything else. This registration is the baseline — it applies whether or not a SACCO later crosses into UMRA's or Bank of Uganda's remit.
UMRA — Tier 4 microfinance institutions, including most SACCOs
The Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority (UMRA) licenses and supervises Tier 4 microfinance institutions and money lenders under the Tier 4 Microfinance Institutions and Money Lenders Act 2016 — this is the regime that covers most SACCOs, those below Bank of Uganda's large-SACCO thresholds. Annual licence renewal and UMRA-formatted quarterly returns are part of this regime.
In transition, as reported: Uganda's Parliament approved a rationalisation bill in November 2024 that would move UMRA's functions into a new Microfinance Tier 4 Management Department inside the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Parliament of Uganda). As of the last-verified date on this page, UMRA's own site continues to publish regulations and process licensing under its existing mandate — the commencement date on which this transition takes legal effect was not confirmed in the sources checked. Treat "UMRA regulates Tier 4 institutions" as the current operating reality, and check this page's last-verified date (or UMRA's own site) before relying on it, since this is a live transition.
Bank of Uganda — large SACCOs only
SACCOs that cross both of Bank of Uganda's large-SACCO thresholds — voluntary savings above UGX 1.5 billion and institutional capital above UGX 500 million — additionally require a Bank of Uganda licence under the Microfinance Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, Cap. 58, and the MDI (Registered Societies) Regulations 2023. This sits alongside, not instead of, the SACCO's original cooperative registration. See the full licensing guide for details.
In short
| Every SACCO | Most SACCOs | Large SACCOs only |
|---|---|---|
| Registrar of Cooperatives (registration) | UMRA (Tier 4 licensing, in transition to MoFPED) | + Bank of Uganda (large-SACCO licence) |
Check the threshold checker if you're not sure which category your SACCO falls into.