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In a move to empower the youth and women of Uganda, the government has recently infused a sh305b into their dedicated programs. These funds have been disseminated under the banner of the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) and the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP).

Investment in Youth Business Ventures

Statistics emerging from the labour ministry paints an encouraging picture. As per the latest numbers, a total of 22,341 businesses have been financially supported through the allocation of sh178.4b. This has translated into tangible benefits for 258,953 Ugandan youth under the YLP.

Introduced in 2014, the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) is a government initiative targeting the economically disadvantaged and unemployed youth, spanning all districts in Uganda. Entrusted with its implementation, the gender ministry has been instrumental in ensuring its successful rollout.

Boosting Women Entrepreneurs

Parallelly, the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), though being inclusive of the youth, primarily aims at uplifting women entrepreneurs. Since its initiation, 217,969 beneficiaries have accessed the program, which has assisted 19,723 projects, by funnelling in shillings 127.3 billion.

UWEP took flight in 2015, with a dual mission: first, to bolster the accessibility of financial services for women and second, to furnish them with the requisite skills that can drive the growth of their enterprises. Moreover, the program has played a pivotal role in assisting women to add value to and market their products and services.

The recent financial boost from the Ugandan government is a testament to its commitment towards nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of its youth and women. While YLP and UWEP have already shown significant positive impact since their inception, this fresh injection of funds is poised to amplify their reach and effectiveness, driving socioeconomic growth, and fostering a more inclusive economic environment for all Ugandans.