Cinnamon Solutions has officially launched the #YimusaLevo campaign, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at driving financial inclusion and technology adoption among underserved fishing communities along the shores of Lake Victoria. The campaign, launched at Masese and Wairaka landing sites in Jinja District, is set to expand to Buikwe, Mukono, and Masaka districts, bringing financial literacy and digitized services to these communities.
Speaking at the launch event, Ms. Doreen Rutazaana, CEO of Cinnamon and a key implementing partner in the initiative, expressed her gratitude to the participating groups for joining the competition. She emphasized the main objective of the E-Booster programme, which is to identify and support innovative ICT solutions that address societal challenges in underserved sectors of the economy. Doreen thanked the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for its support in reaching fishing communities across the four districts. She described the YIMUSA LEVO campaign as a “below the line” effort to promote a culture of saving, encapsulated in the campaign’s tagline, “TEREKA SSENTE OKULAKULANE” (Save Money to Prosper).
Doreen stressed that improving the standard of living in these communities requires hard work and participation in Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), encouraging everyone to save for their future dreams.
Ms. Sarah Namulondo, the Fisheries Officer of Masese District, expressed her gratitude to UCC and Cinnamon Solutions for including the Masese teams in this transformative initiative. She commended the participating groups and pledged her full support to ensure the success of the competition.
Her colleague from Wairaka, Ms. Victo Biwoye, echoed these sentiments, applauding her community for their dedication to saving and encouraging them to work not only to win the competition but also to transform their lives through financial discipline. She also thanked UCC and Cinnamon Solutions for the timely initiative, assuring her support in ensuring the campaign’s success.
Digital Transformation through the Cinnamon Clubs Platform
At the heart of #YimusaLevo is the digitization of financial activities for selected VSLAs and SACCOS using the Cinnamon Clubs platform. This platform automates financial processes, replacing outdated paper-based record-keeping methods that have led to issues such as fraud and delayed payments. The baseline survey conducted before the campaign’s launch revealed that 93% of savings groups were still using manual ledgers, which exposed them to inefficiencies and risks. Only 3% of the surveyed groups used automated systems. By transitioning to digital solutions, #YimusaLevo aims to increase transparency, accountability, and ease of use, ultimately improving the financial stability of these groups.
Phase one of the initiative, which included a baseline survey, stakeholder engagements with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), and community mobilization, has been successfully completed. The next phase focuses on direct engagement and training with local beneficiaries to ensure the adoption of the digital tools and practices provided by the Cinnamon Clubs platform.