Digital Savings Groups: Run Your VSLA, Chama or Family Circle on EriPay

Savings groups are one of the most powerful financial tools in Uganda. Village Savings and Loan Associations, chamas, merry-go-rounds, church fellowships and family circles help millions of people save together and support each other. But the traditional way has real risks: cash boxes get stolen, notebooks get lost or altered, members far away can't contribute, and disputes about who paid what can break friendships.

EriPay Savings Groups keep everything that is good about saving together and remove those risks. This guide explains how they work, how to set one up, and how to run it well.

How EriPay Savings Groups work

1. Create the group. One member opens Savings Groups, names the group, sets the contribution amount and how often members contribute (weekly or monthly), and decides what share of members must approve a payout.
2. Invite members. The group admin invites people by phone number, email or Wallet ID. Each person accepts the invitation from their own EriPay account.
3. Contribute. Members pay into the group from their own wallets. Everyone can see the group balance and who has paid.
4. Get reminders. Members who haven't contributed in the current period receive a reminder.
5. Request a payout. When the group wants to pay a member (whose turn it is, or for an agreed loan or emergency), a payout request is created with the amount and reason.
6. Vote. Members approve or reject the request. Once enough members approve, the money goes straight to that member's wallet.

Why groups are switching to digital

• No cash to guard. The group's money sits in EriPay, not in a box at the treasurer's house.
• Total transparency. Every contribution and payout is recorded and visible to members.
• Shared control. No single person can move the money; payouts need members' approval.
• Distance doesn't matter. Members in Kampala, Lira, Gulu or abroad can all contribute on time.
• Fewer disputes. The record speaks for itself.

Types of groups that work well

• Merry-go-rounds: each member receives the pot in turn. Agree the order in your group rules and approve each payout when it's due.
• VSLAs: members save regularly and the group approves loans from the pool, with repayment as members contribute.
• Welfare groups: funds for burials, illness and emergencies, paid out when members agree.
• Family circles: siblings contributing to parents' upkeep or a family project.
• Workplace and church groups: saving for end-of-year events or shared goals.

Setting up your group: a checklist

1. Agree your rules in writing first: contribution amount, schedule, payout order or loan rules, what happens if someone misses a payment, and how disputes are settled.
2. Choose an approval level that balances safety and speed. For a group of 12, needing about two-thirds of members is a common choice.
3. Make sure every member has an EriPay account. Share your referral link, help older members install the app, or visit an agent together.
4. Create the group with the agreed amount and schedule, and invite members.
5. Make the first contribution together at a meeting, so everyone sees how it works.

Running the group well

• Keep meeting. If you enjoy meeting in person, keep doing it. Let EriPay handle the money and use the meeting for decisions.
• Vote promptly. Payouts wait for approvals; agree that members vote within a day.
• Review the record monthly. Read out the balance and contributions at meetings.
• Choose more than one admin. If one admin changes phones or travels, another can manage invitations.

Frequently asked questions

Can a member leave?

Yes. Agree in your rules how a leaving member's contributions are settled.

Does the group money earn interest?

No. EriPay keeps the money safe and transparent; any interest on loans between members is for your group to agree.

Does it cost anything to run a group?

Creating a group is free. Contributions move between EriPay wallets.

Bring your group online. Sign up free and create your first savings group.