Beneficiaries of the Youth Wealth Creation Programme, particularly young people engaged in small businesses such as selling chips and chapati, have appealed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene in what they describe as heavy-handed enforcement by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials.
The beneficiaries said KCCA enforcement officers frequently confiscate their business equipment and merchandise, leaving them struggling to earn a living and support their families.
The appeal was made to Faizal Ndase, a State House official and coordinator of the Youth Wealth Creation Programme, during a monitoring visit to beneficiaries in Kampala Central.
The programme, established in 2022 under the supervision of State House Comptroller Jane Barekye, aims to support people engaged in low-income activities by providing them with equipment and other resources to improve their businesses.
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About 7,000 people in Kampala are reported to have benefited from the programme.
During the visit, beneficiaries expressed appreciation to President Museveni for supporting their businesses with items including flour, cooking oil, maize flour, saucepans, salon equipment and other tools.
However, they said they are now facing additional challenges, including KCCA enforcement and the rising cost of doing business.
Rauben Kisawuzi, a chapati maker who received a carton of wheat flour and a 20-litre container of cooking oil, said the presidential support had helped many young people in the informal sector establish sources of income and stay away from crime.
"The President's support has played a big role in helping young people in the ghetto get jobs and stay away from bad activities," Kisawuzi said.
He appealed to programme leaders to engage President Museveni and KCCA officials so that small business operators can work under clear regulations.
"We ask Jane Barekye to speak to the President and tell KCCA to reduce the harshness. They should allow us to work, but give us rules to follow. We are ready to comply with those rules," he said.
Another beneficiary, Annet Kabagweere, who sells chips in Katanga, Wandegeya, also thanked the President for the support.
She said the maize flour and cooking oil she received had helped increase her income and enabled her to become more self-reliant.
"When I received the items, my income increased and I was able to support myself," Kabagweere said.
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However, she said the sharp rise in the cost of commodities had made it difficult to sustain her business.
"The prices of things have gone up so much these days, and this has made it difficult for us to continue. We ask the Government to give us more support," she said.
Ndase urged the beneficiaries to remain focused on their work and make good use of the support they have received.
He said the concerns raised by the beneficiaries would be presented to State House Comptroller Jane Barekye and eventually brought to the attention of President Museveni.
Ndase also assured the beneficiaries that President Museveni remains committed to supporting the Youth Wealth Creation Programme.
He added that plans were underway to extend the programme to parts of Wakiso District in the near future.
