The club’s vision and mission are expanding, and it has crossed a major growth milestone, celebrating 5 years, while setting its sights on transforming into a fully-fledged bank after transitioning into other business ventures.
Speaking at the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Hotel Triangle on Saturday, Ronald Sebunya, the Executive Director of the Stress-Free Investment Club (SFIC), revealed that the ultimate vision extends beyond housing to encompass broader financial services.
“We are now collecting money from people in need, and the next stage is to give back that money to those who need it. That is banking. Our long-term focus is to become one of the biggest people-centered banks in the country,” he said.
He added that their biggest goal is to achieve their vision of building affordable houses for their members, while also expanding into a community that supports people around them in real estate and housing development.
“In terms of building capital and nurturing the spirit of working together, it has been a long journey, but one with notable achievements. We have emphasized member contributions, and this has been very instrumental in strengthening our capital base,” Sebunya said, noting that the financial reports clearly show the progress made through this collective effort.
He explained that the club has cautiously invested in different ventures but is now ready for a new phase. “This new chapter is going to give us a way forward on how we can strengthen the club and move faster. When you look at where we stand right now, the club is strong, built on a foundation that focuses on the member first. Our next chapter will be centered on improving members’ welfare.”
Sebunya emphasized that governance, transparency, and stronger systems will be critical for growth. “We need to focus on improving our governance, our controls, and building more transparency, which has already been demonstrated by our current team. I would like to commend my administrative team for the support they have provided in advancing this agenda with great enthusiasm. As we scale up, we must streamline our systems because most of our work is virtual, and this will be instrumental in simplifying operations.”
Looking to the future, he explained that the club’s vision and mission are expanding. “Our objectives are going to be broader, more strategic, and more focused. Some of the goals we set at the beginning seemed ambitious, but we have achieved many, and those we haven’t achieved will guide us in building a stronger foundation for the future.”
Sebunya further stressed risk management and member benefits as key priorities. “We shall focus on reducing risks in managing members’ funds, while also expanding our portfolio so that members can benefit. Ultimately, we must create a platform where members can earn dividends from their savings.”
He acknowledged that the club has faced challenges along the way, including members who left for personal or strategic reasons, but reassured the community of continuity. “The journey still goes on. We are open to members who wish to continue and invite new ones who align with our objectives.”
Yesigye Brian Bravo, the founder of SFIC, reflected on the club’s growth and urged members to aim higher in the next phase of their journey.
“We have now crossed the five-year mark, and as a founder, I ask myself—can we do it again? What if we decided that by a certain time, each of us should have saved at least 20 million shillings? Imagine every member with a portfolio of sh20 million; that would be our jackpot,” Yesigye said.
He explained that with such capital, the club could secure significant leverage in the financial sector. “If you have two or three billion shillings, you can put it anywhere. Even if you walk into any bank and say, ‘We have three billion, we want to earn 15 percent per annum,’ do you know how much money each member could take home monthly? We have the capacity to achieve this.”
Yesigye pointed to the club’s past investment decisions as proof of resilience and foresight. “UAP is giving us money—you have already seen the interest. We took a bold decision to invest in a 10-year bond, and while many members initially complained, we are now halfway through. Just think about it—a bond worth 200 million gives us sh27m annually. That is the power of patient investment.”
The SFIC’s portfolio continues to show steady growth, with deposits into the Unit Trust standing at Shs 536.8 million, while reinvested interest from bonds contributed an additional Shs 98.6 million. As a result, the club’s portfolio value reached Shs805 million by June 30, 2025, reflecting both disciplined savings and prudent investment decisions.
According to Nanziri Sylvia Nanziri, the Head of Investments, this performance demonstrates the impact of consistent contributions and smart reinvestments.
“Our portfolio growth to Shs805 million by mid-2025 is a strong indicator that members’ savings, combined with reinvested bond interest, are yielding tangible results. It shows that disciplined saving and patient investing are paying off, and we are on track to achieve our bigger financial goals,” Nanziri explained.
Guest Speaker Ronald Mukasa, Head of Innovation and Learning at Enterprise Uganda, commended the growth of SFIC for its leadership and for creating sustainable systems, which have enabled the club to take another step.
“It means that it is possible to work together as a group and create a lasting development, using systems to manage the club helps in accountability. If the investment club is growing, it is important to invest in low-risk investment areas, which is why they chose unit trusts and treasury bonds,” he said.