Kamuli, Uganda: Over 400 youths in Kamuli and Jinja districts are set to benefit from a new initiative dubbed “We Work for Youth Decent Jobs and Self-Employment”. The initiative was launched Tuesday, August 26, by Kamuli District Farmers Association (KDFA) in partnership with Trias, Uganda National Youth Farmers Association (UNYFA), and other development partners.
The two-year project (May 2025–April 2027), funded by Enabel, the Belgian Government, and the European Union, seeks to empower young people in agriculture by supporting enterprise growth across value chains, including coffee, cocoa, apiary, fish, and waste management.
According to KDFA Coordinator Mr. Balinaine Peter, 250 youths—130 females and 120 males—from six sub-counties in Kamuli have already been selected for the first two training cohorts. He urged leaders at all levels to rally behind the programme to help youth achieve self-employment.
“We have selected youths from Butansi, Balawoli, Kagumba, Mbulamuti, Municipality and Namwendwa for the first two cohorts. With the right support, each of them can earn a minimum monthly profit of Shs230,000,” Balinaine said.
The project will train 250 youths in business development services, link them to markets and financial institutions, and support 70 beneficiaries with start-up kits worth Shs1 million each. It will also facilitate business certification and partnership opportunities.
Enabel Regional Manager Mr. Gideon Muhumuza explained that the funding was inspired by barriers young people face in enterprise growth, including lack of access to inputs, capital, land and business skills.
“Uganda’s youth face persistent unemployment challenges despite their interest in entrepreneurship. This project is about breaking those barriers,” Muhumuza said.
Presiding over the launch at KDFA headquarters, Assistant RDC Kamuli Mr. Batambuze John Baptist rallied youth in Busoga sub-region to embrace agriculture as the surest path to fighting poverty.
“Agriculture is the only way to go. I urge the youth and Busoga at large to embrace it so we can fight poverty and famine together,” he said.
Kamuli District Secretary for Production Mr. Muwangala Moses commended the development partners for prioritising youth empowerment in the district, pledging total support from local leaders.
The project will directly benefit 250 youths in Kamuli and 150 in Jinja, equipping them with tools, skills, and resources to drive sustainable agribusiness.
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