Kampala, Uganda: The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) and Senior Presidential Advisor/Presidential Assistant, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, on Monday welcomed a group of more than 100 ghetto youths who thronged her Kyambogo office seeking empowerment and clearer access to government programmes aimed at transforming their livelihoods.
The youths, mainly from Makindye, Katwe and Kisenyi, were accompanied by ASP Gilbert Nyaika, the Community Liaison Officer at Katwe Police Division, and one Mugisha Meddie, a youth leader and ONC Coordinator from Makindye Division.
During the engagement, the youths raised concerns over difficulties accessing government financing initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Ghetto Structures Fund and Emyooga, alleging corruption and bureaucratic barriers by some leaders managing the funds.
“We are told these funds are for us, but when you go to access them, you are blocked unless you know someone. We want a fair system where the ghetto youth can benefit,” said Moses Kato, a youth from Kisenyi.
Another youth from Katwe, Amina Nansubuga, said many had given up applying after repeated frustrations. “We are ready to work, but the money never reaches us. That is why we came to Hajjat, to help us reach the right doors,” she said.
The group, including ghetto commanders, also appealed to Namyalo to support them under the ONC’s ongoing empowerment drive, which has seen hundreds of youths equipped with income-generating tools from the Kyambogo office.
“We want to be empowered according to our skills, welding, mechanics, car washing, hair salons and small food businesses, so that we stop depending on handouts,” a ghetto commander from Katwe noted.
Some youths with formal qualifications also sought institutional placement. Orishaba Joviah, who said she holds relevant academic credentials, asked Namyalo to recommend skilled youths for opportunities in city authorities and government agencies such as Kampala Capital City Authority, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, among others.
“We apply, but without backing, our applications die quietly. We need transparency and support,” Orishaba said, also proposing the extension of skilling hubs into ghetto communities, coupled with start-up tools to enable self-employment.
In response, Namyalo said she understood the frustrations and decried the bureaucracy surrounding established funds, pledging to follow up the matter and, where necessary, escalate it to Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for consideration of increased funding.
“I know these programmes are meant to uplift you, not frustrate you. I will follow this up and also engage the President so that funding is expanded and reaches the intended beneficiaries,” Namyalo said.
As an immediate intervention within her mandate, Namyalo pledged to empower the youths based on their existing skills and preferences. She cited sewing machines for tailors, welding machines and automotive toolboxes for mechanics, car-wash machines, chips-making machines, popcorn and groundnut machines, as well as hairdryers for women-led enterprises.
She assured the youths that the first phase of empowerment would be rolled out within the week, even as she pursues longer-term structural solutions to address access to capital and skilling.
On his part, ASP Nyaika praised the youths for choosing dialogue and productivity over criminality. “This is the right path, coming out openly to seek empowerment instead of engaging in crime. When youths are busy and skilled, the community becomes safer,” Nyaika said.
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