Bold claim: many young people are being left behind by tangled funding rules, but a new chorus of accountability promises real change. Here’s a reimagined take on the original report that preserves every key detail while expanding clarity and accessibility.
Kampala SACCO Leaders Urged to Guard Youth Start-Up Funds Against Misuse
The Kampala Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Umalu Lule Mawuya, issued a strong warning to leaders of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) established under the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child. The message was clear: funds intended to help trained youths launch income-generating ventures must be managed with the utmost integrity and used only for their designated purpose.
During a gathering with skilled youths representing the five Kampala divisions at Mulago, Lule reminded SACCO chairpersons that this money should be protected and strictly dedicated to its stated goals. “Do not be tempted to misuse or divert SACCO funds,” he cautioned. “Anyone found mismanaging these resources will face the full weight of the law.”
Lule also disclosed that he has briefed President Museveni about plans to boost funding for youth SACCOs after the elections, enabling more beneficiaries to benefit from the program.
Many youths turned out to the meeting, seeking clarity on the shs50 million promised by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to each SACCO. The funds were reportedly already reflected in accounts across Kawempe, Central, Nakawa, and Makindye divisions.
Dr. Mirembe Faith Katana, head of the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child Project, confirmed that the funds had been released. She explained that the money had arrived, but emphasized the need to first train beneficiaries on how to access and responsibly use the funds. Her message: responsible utilization is essential for the project’s overall success.
James Nambiro, the Private Secretary for Education and Skilling for the President, highlighted the government’s broader aim to empower youth through practical skill-building and startup support funded via SACCOs. “The President chose to guide the youth by equipping them with hands-on skills and subsequently providing start-up capital through their SACCOs,” Nambiro stated.
The attending youths expressed deep appreciation for the President’s welfare-focused initiative and for the opportunity to pursue prosperity. “We thank President Museveni for remembering us and giving us a chance to grow,” several participants affirmed.
Key takeaways include a firm call for fiduciary discipline among SACCO leaders, ongoing government assurances of increased youth funding, and a clear pathway from training to startup capital designed to catalyze youth entrepreneurship across Kampala’s divisions.
Would this approach to youth funding—emphasizing training first, then capital, with robust oversight—sound scalable to other regions? How should communities balance speed of disbursement with thorough beneficiary training, to avoid early misuse and maximize long-term impact?
