Founded in 2016 as The Development Facility (TDF), we have evolved and refined as Thrive Development Facility (TDF). TDF is a brainchild of Dr. Bosco Bwambale (Ph.D.) who bore its idea and philosophy in May 2016 while staying at Rwengoma, Fort Portal City (the then Fort Portal Municipality). Bosco mobilized and brought onboard other members making the first team of board to total to 07. The key initial idea was how to be self-help group, develop, and sustain themselves within the then Fort Portal Municipality. Upon agreement with members, TDF was registered in West division, Fort Portal municipality (Rwenzori region) in December 2016.

2017 also happened to be the time Bosco was engaged in his doctoral studies. This required much time dedication. So, Bosco could rarely oversee the running of TDF closely. He delegated his duties to the other members, specifically in the deputy team leader to oversee the running of TDF. Nevertheless, this did rarely run smoothly. So, TDF retarded from mid-2017. This led to withdraw of some members. TDF was virtually left with only Bosco as the only active member until mid-2019.

From mid-2019 through late 2019, foreseeing that he is about to complete his doctoral studies, Bosco revived TDF. He facilitated the renewing membership of each member which still wished to move on with TDF. New members were brought onboard after assessing their willingness to embrace the TDF spirit. Therefore, in December 2019, the glory of TDF was fully revived with two new members: Joseph Mutabingwa and Miriam Biira. Until around March 2020, these were the core directors of TDF chaired by Bosco. These recruited other directors.

The revival from late 2019 has seen TDF grow even more faster, including, with a fully-fledged independent physical office as well as systems to increase transparency and internal running. Other innovation developed in TDF (as of March 5, 2020) including: the more community-based self-help initiatives (of the offering access to affordable education or school fees lending) as well as operational units or departments called committees. In this same year the vision of TDF was broadened to be an investments’ organization.

From July 01, 2020, board TDF made a resolution to constitute a secretariat and thus have separation of powers between the board of directors and employees. The first employee (though in the capacity of a volunteer administrator) is Jetrida Komuhangi, a graduate of Banking and Development Finance from Mountains of the Moon University. TDF is grateful to her for accepting to take lead in running the day-to-day TDF activities.

Following the meeting held on August 22, 2020 a resolution was reached to form and register TDF financial services in the framework of Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC). This was geared to mark the transition of the credit arm of TDF to a financial institution as well as institute savings and internal lending (financial solidarity) groups to reach out to more grassroot people as well as advocate for their economic sovereignty.

The name SILC was, following the retreat head at Kahunga-Bunyonyi (Fort Portal, Uganda) on October 09-10, 2020, rephase into COLIGs (as prior elaborated). In the same retreat a decision was passed to make TDF a non-profit institute, with two core pragma areas: Livelihood (improvement) and Financial Services.