The Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) has officially launched a campaign aimed at encouraging beneficiaries of the Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP) to receive financial support through a digital system called “VUP Digital Payment.” The system is expected to improve efficiency and convenience in service delivery for VUP beneficiaries.
The launch took place on August 22, 2025, in Tare Sector, Nyamagabe District, one of the districts where all sector-based SACCOs have already been merged.
The campaign, branded “My Phone, My Money,” was introduced by LODA in collaboration with the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) and other partners, including GIZ.
The Vice Mayor of Nyamagabe District in charge of Social Affairs, Agnès Uwamariya, told residents of Tare Sector that the VUP Digital Payment system will help them manage their money more easily and securely while promoting self-reliance. She encouraged them to embrace it, saying:
“This system is simple and reliable. It saves you the time and travel costs of going to SACCO branches. Your money is secure since you no longer need to worry about theft or loss. Moreover, you won’t have to stand in long queues at SACCO anymore. Please adopt it.”
After the explanation, residents who benefit from VUP welcomed the new system. Among them, Béatha Murekatete from Gasaka Sector said the system will save them from the inconvenience of frequently traveling to SACCOs:
“There were times you spent the whole day moving back and forth to SACCO, forgetting that you even had livestock at home that needed feeding! Now we will access money easily without stress and dedicate our time to income-generating activities.”
Staff members at sector-based SACCOs also expressed support for the initiative. Dative Murekatete, an employee at a SACCO in Nyamagabe, explained that it will improve service delivery:
“This is very good because when our clients are happy, we are happy too. Now that accounts are linked to mobile phones, VUP beneficiaries who are SACCO members will no longer have to stand in long queues.”
Maurice Nsabibaruta, Division Manager of Community Development Strategy and Coordination at LODA, highlighted that technology is a key driver that will accelerate poverty reduction for VUP beneficiaries:
“Technology is the key to helping beneficiaries of VUP programs graduate from poverty. Once money reaches them on time and they can withdraw it instantly without extra costs, it will undoubtedly promote their development.”
Currently, the campaign is being piloted in Burera and Nyamagabe districts. However, LODA announced that the initiative will gradually expand to other districts across the country.
As part of the campaign, citizens are encouraged to link their SACCO accounts with theirregistered mobile phone numbers and national ID details. This step will allow beneficiaries to access financial support more conveniently and reduce reliance on physical SACCO visits.