Earlier conditions stipulated that the beneficiaries would be between 18-35 years and should have an O-level certificate as a minimum academic qualification. Also, the government ruled that any youth who wished to access the money should have a registered company that does formal business.
However, some of the conditions, particularly the age limit and academic qualifications, have met a negative reception, especially from some youth MPs.
“The issue of tagging academic qualifications before getting that money is entirely not good because some people might not have the papers yet they are actually excellent in managing businesses,” Eastern region youth MP, Peter Ogwang, was quoted saying shortly after the fund’s release.
Speaking to The Observer, Herbert Baryayebwa, a director in Gender, Labour and Social Development - the ministry tasked with foreseeing the training of the youth who intend to acquire the fund - said they would most likely change some of the conditions.
“We are planning on doing affirmative action, especially in the Karamoja sub-region. It would really be unfair to expect the youth there to have O-level certificates because most of them are not educated,” Baryayebwa said.
“We may later also need to review some of the other conditions like the 15% interest rate.”
Baryayebwa said training, as a prerequisite for the youth who intend to acquire the loans, will kick off early March and will take two months.
“We have approached some business training institutions to help us out with the training. We are also calling upon other institutions to come on board and tell us what they can contribute,” Baryayebwa explained.
Meanwhile, the fund was received with mixed feelings across the country. Whilst some youth are hopeful it will drive them out of poverty, others are sceptical about its relevancy. “Shs25 billion is very little considering that we have 78% of this country’s population below 35,” said Gerald Karuhanga, Western region youth MP.
Source. Observer
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