The Congregational Agricultural Development Project (CADeP) is a program aimed at helping Institutes to improve their agricultural productivity by providing them with agricultural grants (loans) at a small administrative charge of 4%. The minimum that can be given to an Institute is UGX 5,000,000 and the maximum is UGX 10,000,000 with a grace period of six (6) months before starting to repay the loan. Many Institutes have benefited from this fund to establish farms, renovate farm houses and set up agricultural infrastructure that boost their agricultural productivity.

A number of the Institutes currently like Our Lady of Good Counsel, Good Samaritan Sisters, Spiritan Fathers, Franciscan Sisters of the reign of Jesus Christ, Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga, Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church and Brothers of Christian Instruction have running loans. Some Institutes have coffee and banana plantations while others are in animal rearing.

ARU management ensures periodic visits and evaluation to ensure proper utilization of borrowed funds and attainment of value for money. Majority of the Institutes have been visited this year.

Guidelines on How to Handle CADeP Funds

1. Institutes hand in their proposals, applications or requests to ARU for the loans
2. ARU Management and the CADeP Committee studies the different proposals raised by the Institutes.
3. ARU Management and the CADeP Committee visits the prospective farms and assess whether the Institute is eligible for the loan or not.
4. If approved, a loan payment schedule is drafted and sent to the Institute for a better understanding.
5. A six (6) months grace period is granted onto the Institute after the realization of the proceeds.
6. Monthly statements are sent by ARU Management so the different borrowers and warnings to those that have failed to comply.

On Delays to Service the Loan

Different measures will be taken to ensure that the Institute clears the loan. These will include;

1. Writing to the Superiors General and the Council to ensure that they comply.
2. The defaulting Institute will be denied all other privileges of the Association not until they clear.
3. An annual increment interest of 4% will be levied on the balance as a penalty for the delayed payment.