Kampala, (UG):- President Yoweri Museveni has fulfilled his pledge of 36 motorcycles to the 12 ghetto structures in the Kampala Metropolitan.The motorcycles were delivered by the State House Comptroller Jane Barekye on September 4, 2024, at a function held at Bwaise-based ghetto structure commonly known as Gaza Tough Empire. Each of the ghetto SACCOs received three motorcycles.
The beneficiary groups, include Kawempe North Ghetto Co-operative Society Ltd, Masajja Para Zone Ghetto Youth Development Savings and Credit Co-operative Society Ltd, Kasokoso Ghetto Co-operative Society Ltd, Kawempe South Ghetto Co-operative Society Ltd, Makindye West Youths with Skills Co-operative Society Ltd, Kampala Kisenyi III Ghetto SACCO Ltd, Rubaga Kakeeka Zone Dwellers Cooperative Society Ltd, Nakawa Division Ghetto Co-operative Society Ltd and Makindye East Ghetto Youth Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd.
Others were Nansana Division Ghetto SACCO, Kasangati Ghetto Community SACCO and Mukono Industrial Area Ghettos SACCO Ltd.
While handing over the motorcycles, Barekye conveyed greetings from President Museveni with a message to the ghetto youth to continue working hard and being disciplined as well as loving their country.
“The motorcycles you have received are not to sit in your offices but to enhance the incomes of your SACCOs to further enhance your prosperity,” Barekye said.
The pledge was made by President Museveni on July 31, 2024, when he met ghetto SACCO leaders at State House Entebbe where he also fulfilled his sh1.2b pledge to the 12 SACCOs (sh100m each) in Kampala Metropolitan Area which he had promised to give them during a meeting at Kololo Independence Grounds last year.
“From the sh100m, you can do something for yourselves. In the villages, we’re encouraging people into commercial farming. It’s good that you have a base here in the town where you have small businesses, artisanship, services like salons and others. Those are areas you should participate in within your groups (constituencies).”
Barekye reminded the ghetto youth of the Government continuous support in their enterprises and urged their leaders to ensure transparency as they keep track of their SACCOs.
“The money given to you by the President is to uplift your standards through increasing your household incomes. We’re going to be monitoring you whether you have used it for the intended purpose of getting out of poverty,” she added.
The Director of Crime Intelligence and ghetto structure project co-ordinator, Brig. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira expressed gratitude to President Museveni for hosting the ghetto youth on July 31 and for fulfilling his pledge of sh1.2b to the ghetto SACCO structures and finally the motorcycles.
“I want to thank His Excellency the President because he understood very well that it was hard for us to access loans from the bank and came to our rescue after knowing that ghetto youths can also engage in productive activities,” Brig Gen. Ddamulira stated, while acknowledging a big change in the ghetto circles since the last three years he started interacting with them as the Director of Crime Intelligence.
“Ghetto areas that were once places of criminality have now transformed into progressive and hardworking communities and this has changed their bad image. Thank you for establishing structures and trusting in your leaders who have helped us to organize and show you direction,” Ddamulira said.
He further encouraged the ghetto youth to continue being disciplined and avoid bad habits such as alcoholism which destroys their bodies, gambling, prostitution which leads to diseases and drug addiction.
Efforts to acquire national IDs
Maj. Emmanuel Kuteesa, who is also a coordinator of the ghetto structure project, informed the State House Comptroller that they have embarked on efforts to ensure the ghetto youths acquire national identification cards to enable them to open bank accounts as they transition into serious businessmen and women.
“We’re compiling lists of those who have started income-generating projects to ensure we monitor and keep tracking their progress,” Kuteesa said.
Cash donation ‘working’
The National Chairperson of Ghetto structures, Kalyango Shafik, assured Barekye that the money (sh1.2b) received in July 2024 has already started working and members are accessing it.
“We are very happy that we have received our motorcycles today. I thank President Museveni for understanding the ghetto people and for allowing them to participate in national development. He (the President) has given us a chance and the opportunity to be heard. If we don’t support him, it will be a betrayal,” Mr. Kalyango stated, adding that their SACCOs are among the most active.
“People were wondering why the ghetto youths were given money not knowing that we have proved our capacity as capable and organised citizens,” Kalyango added.
He further appreciated Brig Gen. Ddamulira and Kuteesa for the wonderful job of mobilising the ghetto youths to withdraw from criminality into productive and responsible citizens.
“You have shown the world that people in the ghetto are also important. These people (ghetto youths) had been in criminal activities not because they wanted but because there was nobody to listen to them. Madam Comptroller, these people (Ddamulira and Kuteesa) have done a very wonderful job for us because they understand all the problems in the ghetto,” Kalyango noted.
According to President Museveni, the problems of the ghetto people started when the educated people (elite) failed to deal with the uneducated although, also the uneducated have had their weaknesses like the failure to hold their elected leaders accountable.
In a meeting at State House Entebbe in July, the President assured the ghetto youths that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government is pro-people that emphasises politics of interest and works for all Ugandans. He also rallied the ghetto youths to hold their leaders accountable and demand what is meant for them.
The ceremony was also attended by the District Police Commander (DPC) for Kawempe Division, SP Muwonge Abel, the DPC Wandegeya, SP Hiwumbire Hassan and Ogwang Steven, the OC Operations for Wandegeya, among others.
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