The Nnabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda poses with some of the beneficiaries in one of her training initiative called Ekisaakaate
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Thousands of youths in Buganda Kingdom are expected to benefit from a new youth development initiative aimed at improving their livelihoods through practical training, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
The programme, proposed by the Nnaabagereka Development Foundation, seeks to equip young people with specialized skills that will enable them to start businesses, secure sustainable incomes and become financially independent.
The proposal was presented to senior technical officers serving in ministries under the government of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II during a consultative meeting held at Bulange Mengo on Monday.
Officials said the meeting was convened to collect ideas and professional input from government officers in order to refine and strengthen the youth empowerment proposal before it is implemented.
Presenting the proposal, the Executive Director of the Nnaabagereka Development Foundation, Andrew Adrian Mukiibi, explained that the programme is designed to address the major challenges facing young people in Buganda, particularly the lack of income-generating opportunities.
“The initiative focuses on equipping youth with practical and specialized training that will help them improve their livelihoods,” Mukiibi said. “We want young people to gain the skills that will enable them to start their own businesses and achieve their dreams.”
He noted that the programme will run for five years and is expected to conclude in 2030.
According to Mukiibi, the initiative will create opportunities for young people across Buganda to gain knowledge and skills that can help them build sustainable careers and enterprises.
“We encourage all young people to take advantage of the opportunities that will be created under this programme so that no youth is left behind,” he added.
The Buganda Kingdom Minister for Youth, Sports and Arts, Robert Sserwanga, also emphasized the importance of involving young people in development programmes.
Sserwanga called upon technical officers working in different ministries within the kingdom to create initiatives that actively attract and engage youth.
“If we create opportunities that attract young people to participate in programmes implemented by the ministries, we shall uplift them and improve their socio-economic conditions,” he said.
He further observed that fear is one of the major obstacles preventing many youths from venturing into productive work or starting businesses.
“Fear is one of the biggest barriers. Many people hesitate to begin projects or businesses because they are uncertain about the future,” Sserwanga explained. “We must remove this fear among young people so they can confidently participate in economic activities.”
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Service in the Office of the Katikkiro, Josephine Nantege Ssemanda, acknowledged that transforming the lives of young people can be challenging but stressed that the kingdom remains committed to finding solutions.
“Transforming the lives of young people may seem difficult, but we have gathered here as government officers together with the Nnaabagereka Development Foundation to uplift the youth from the challenges we know they face,” she said.
Ssemanda explained that the consultative meeting enabled technical officers from different ministries to contribute ideas and recommendations on how best to implement the programme.
“As technical officers, we have been presented with a well-prepared proposal outlining how we can collectively develop a unified plan to improve the livelihoods of young people in Buganda,” she added.
She noted that each ministry would propose projects aligned with its mandate, which will then be incorporated into a broader joint programme coordinated by the Nnaabagereka Development Foundation.
The youth development proposal is currently still in the consultation phase, with additional input expected from experts and other stakeholders.
Once consultations are completed, the proposal will be submitted to the kingdom’s Cabinet for approval before the programme is formally launched.
Officials believe that once implemented, the initiative could significantly transform the lives of young people across Buganda by providing them with the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to participate fully in economic development.
