Youth fund improves livelihoods

Reference is made to a story in the Daily Monitor of November 1, which portrayed the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) as nothing but “misappropriation of funds reported over years” and that “the funds have failed to serve the purpose…” The story was part of the Africa Youth Day Supplement.

Under the theme: ‘1 million by 2021: Count me in,’ the writer needed to anchor the writing on facts and figures in relation to the global theme, which would allow the many youth who have benefited under the initiative, to audit themselves and ascertain whether they are operating within goals of the international drive.

We wish to clarify that YLP has created change for the youth in Uganda. To date, funds have been disbursed to 20,159 youth projects benefiting up to 241,799 youth. Total amount disbursed is Shs160,238b (not Shs68b as reported). Money repaid is Shs30.418b of the Shs51.488b that is due. Amount due refers to the money that is expected to be recovered according to the project work plan. This is because not all projects have got the same maturity period.

Countrywide, 273 groups have completed 100 per cent repayment. Therefore, the claim that the funds have not served the purpose and youth groups do not pay back, is utterly false. YLP is built around three programme components, which are:

Skills development aimed at supporting the development of marketable livelihood skills and tool-kits to create self-employment opportunities among the poor and unemployed youth. Under this, 936 youth projects have been financed to the tune of Shs7.884b, benefiting 11,061 youth. They include carpentry, metal fabrication, hair dressing, tailoring, leather works, electrical repairs, and bakery/cookery, among others. The other two include the Livelihoods Support Fund and Institutional Support Fund.

Lastly, YLP does not only depend on the statistics given above. An Impact Evaluation study was conducted in 2018 by a team of independent consultants from the University of California - Los Angeles, Makerere University and the Uganda Youth Development Link. Results showed that YLP has had a positive contribution of four per cent to job creation in Uganda. This has been achieved through the creation of 200,000 direct jobs and more than 500,000 indirect jobs through multiplier effects at household and community levels.

According to the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ms Janat Mukwaya, “this demonstrates that targeting the unbankable youth, is a bold move by government to ensure no one is left behind in the country’s efforts to achieve socio-economic development.” Parliament in the FY 2013/2014 approved Shs265b for YLP over a period of five years. Not all the funds have been disbursed, but the recoveries made are ploughed back to new youth groups because it is a revolving fund.

Notwithstanding the challenges like natural disasters, corrupt tendencies among some stakeholders, business competition, group dynamics, high expectations of the youth, poor attitude towards blue collar jobs, among others, which has affected their performance, these groups have been provided the necessary support and are progressing.

It is important to note that group members that abused the funds have been arrested and money recovered. Some have been charged in Courts of Laws. We emphasise that the programme is on track.

Godfrey Malime Gamusi,

Documentation officer, YLP