entrepreneurship uganda
MORE THAN 10,000 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN Edward’s Trained in Uganda ICT Enterprise
A 19 year old’s BUSINESS MIRACLES BIG CASH TO TORORO’s Damalie from poultry farming
ILO gives hope to Kayunga YOUTH Group Alert Agency partnership brings hope to Gulu communities
Value addition to a UGX80m MUSHROOM from HONEY BUSINESS 2 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 H.E.GEN. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President of the Republic of Uganda
The President officially launched the YEF Uganda program on the 12th August 2010 during the International Youth Day celebrations with the signing of an inauguration certificate
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 3 Brief Update MORE THAN 10,000 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TRAINED IN UGANDA
In 2009, the Government of Denmark to BDS and finance were merged School (CBS) have been launched. - through the Africa Commission into one component with the rest Secretariat (ACS) asked the remaining basically the same. A massive investment has been International Labour Organization done with education authorities (ILO) and the Youth Employment Since the start-up of the programme in in Uganda to review and revise Network (YEN) to design and April 2010, the Facility has established the entrepreneurship curriculum implement the Young Entrepreneurs itself as a key intervention for youth in high schools across the country Initiative presented in the Africa entrepreneurship development and turning it into one of the most Commission report of May 2009. The made the Africa Commission Initiative comprehensive curriculum in Africa Unleashing African Entrepreneurship/ visible at the national level in all three and was rolled out in 2012 in more Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (YEF) countries. Governments and political than 950 schools. The Y2Y Fund was subsequently designed. This 5 leaders have on several occasions competitive grant scheme has been year initiative (2010-2014) focuses on demonstrated their full engagement in high demand and captured a new Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda over two in the programme as have private and market for youth entrepreneurship phases in 2010-2011 (Phase I) and in civil society actors. In all countries development services in all the 2012-2014 (Phase II). partnerships have been formed with three countries. In Uganda alone, governments, financial institutions, more than 1,300 youth organisations The Development Objective of the universities, employers’ and and groups applied for funds and programme is to contribute to the employees’ organizations, business representatives from selected creation of decent work for young development service providers and organizations received capacity Africans, both as a means of self- youth development organisations. building support in project planning employment and as job creation for The well known Start and Improve and management. In addition, more others through entrepreneurship Your Business (SIYB) package of the than 10,000 young men and women development. In Phase I, this ILO was given a young entrepreneur have received training and over 1 objective was pursued through six facelift with a focus on supporting million youth have been reached inter-related and complementary green and social enterprises in all through entrepreneurship culture components: (1) entrepreneurship the three countries and master information campaigns; partnerships culture promotion; (2) integrating trainers and BDS providers have been to deliver business training to existing entrepreneurship education for in- capacitated to deliver the programme. and potential young entrepreneurs school youth; (3) facilitating access to Many innovative partnerships have been made with over 76 BDS business development services (BDS) focusing on areas such as green and providers; 35 youth organisations for out-of-school youth; (4) access social business plan competitions have received grants to implement to finance for young entrepreneurs; in the three countries, a national entrepreneurship development (5) capacity building of youth business apprenticeship programme projects and additional financial organizations through the Youth-to- for university graduates and the resources have been raised from Youth (Y2Y) Fund and (6) evidence- business mentoring programme in international partners to support the based advocacy. In Phase II, access Kenya with Copenhagen Business initiative.
4 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 YEF through its implementing partners has reached 100% national coverage in Uganda
Map Of Uganda
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 5 Ministerial Message Unleashing Uganda’s Youth Entrepreneurship
Hon. Ronald Kibuule Hon: Mary Karooro Okurut Minister of State of Youth and Children Affairs, Cabinet Minister for Gender Labour and Social Republic of Uganda Development Republic of Uganda
Young women and men are indeed It is equally important to note that As government, we shall continue to one of the most valuable assets for as a country, we fully appreciate that support and guide the YEF program to any country because of the innate one of the strategic priority area of ensure its sustainability. It is true that potential and capacity to contribute intervention in denting the profile of Ugandan youth still meet formidable towards the social, economic and unemployment and poverty in the challenges in their struggle to political transformation. country is taking deliberate effort to improve on their standards of living create an entrepreneurial class. To partially because the vast majority The Government of Uganda recognizes this end, government has invested in of youth know very little about the the critical need to empower and the youth entrepreneurship venture livelihood outlets and opportunities harness the immense energy of the capital fund and entrepreneurial that exist but with efforts like those of young people and channel it towards training to position young people to YEF, coupled with the government’s achieving the objectives and intent of move from the peasantrian status to good will towards the young people, the National Development Plan. middle class. we can be sure that our population is destined for increased productivity by As the government, we are fully The Youth Entrepreneurship Facility the year 2040. convinced that investing in youth (YEF) strategy with funding from livelihood, strategic training and Danish Government is indeed We are surely convinced that together education, building civic competences a critical intervention geared we can make a difference in the lives and developing their soft skills is a towards augmenting government’s of our young people. clear path way to achieving vision interventions towards creating decent 2040. work for young women and men.
6 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 Chairman Of The National Advisory Committee Exploring The Entrepreneurship Potential of the Youh
Employment Creation for young people is central to the national socio- The Youth Entrepreneurship Facility economic development of Uganda. (YEF) is therefore not only a timely, Employment creation is anchored innovative strategic intervention but in the National Development Plan is equally responsive to government’s (NDP) (2010/2011-2014/2015) whose strategic areas of focus namely; theme is “growth, employment and fighting poverty through sustainable succeeding. I have met youth socio –economic transformation for wealth creation. Continued employing fellow youth; others are prosperity” promotion of an enterprising culture sustainably providing the basic needs and entrepreneurship education of their households and living a more The NDP puts considerable emphasis amongst the youth will without descent life. This is indeed a great on balancing growth with progress in doubt, bring forth a generation that achievement that we must celebrate, social equity in order to sustainably values saving and investment. This although we need to do much more. reduce poverty through wealth will consequently transform the As I have already indicated, Uganda’s creation. It equally accorded high various micro businesses into small goodwill for YEF is evidently importance to skills Development and medium enterprise to propel the documented and therefore look as a means of raising productivity country into an industrious hub for forward to continued collaboration and incomes and enhancing the region. Increasing youth access to from all the programme partners, competitiveness of the Economy. business development services and donors and implementing staff. financing plus other innovative ways Equally important, youth employment of addressing inadequate capital, is Together we can make a great creation is also anchored in the indeed a magnanimous limp towards difference in the lives of our youth. National Employment Policy prosperity. The journey may seem bumpy, for Uganda 2011 whose theme challenging and tedious but our is “increasing Employment As Uganda’s chairman for the resolve has never been as strong as it Opportunities and Labour productivity National Advisory Committee is now, nor our conviction as solid as for socio economic transformation”. for the programme of Youth it stands. Entrepreneurship Facility, I have Government has therefore put had the honour of interacting with in place an adequate enabling beneficiaries and hearing their Kyateka F. Mondo environment and framework within renewed sense of life has been re- Assistant Commissioner for Youth Affairs. which various actors can operate and assuring and comforting. Uganda Chairman of The National Advisory contribute towards down grading the has talented young women and Committee-YEF profile of youth unemployment. men, whose businesses are truly
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 7 YEF UGANDA UNLEASHING Opportunities FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
The ILO- Youth Entrepreneurship business start up and employment Facility (YEF) supports enterprising creation over the period. young men and women unleash their potential to create decent jobs In addition, the Entrepreneurship for themselves and their peers. By Skills training spearheaded by the unleashing their entrepreneurial skills Ministry of Gender, Labour and and talents and turning their energies Social Development has contributed into productive activities, ILO hopes to positive outcomes and the to make contribution towards likelihood of future positive impact innovation, income generation and is quite high. A survey conducted in employment creation. In Uganda, 10 districts out of the 15 where the positive changes are happening in training was piloted in 2012; shows terms of businesses started and/or that, the average sales turnover of expanded after business training, the beneficiaries had increased by enhanced access to finance, business 72 percent; from 1.1 billion ugshs improvements in sales, profitability to over 2 billion by August 2013. The successes are real and youth and productivity and jobs being Contribution to the national economy economic empowerment is being created by the thousands of youth through taxes also increased by 27 made visible. I take this opportunity reached so far, thanks to YEF technical percent; Uganda shillings 6 million to sincerely thank the Government of and financial assistance. to over Uganda shillings 24 million Uganda for the good will it continues during the same period. to accord the project. We thank We acknowledge the tangible the Government of Denmark for progress from the YEF partners and Similarly, the net profits of the young the financial support through the stakeholders in Uganda. The 2013 entrepreneurs trained increased by Africa Commission. We thank all our SIYB Impact Survey noted that, 49% 63%; while savings grew by 101% partners in Uganda, for working with of the trained young entrepreneurs, from Uganda shillings 129 million us to unleash the potential of young who had gone through the SIYB to Uganda shillings 260 million. In Uganda men and women. training had started a new business terms of job creation, there was a big In every new business that a trained change from 286 jobs (counting both Alexio Musindo youth in Uganda started, an average permanent and temporary) among ILO Director of 2.4 additional jobs were created the surveyed population (149 youth Dar es Salaam including that of the owner. Assuming entrepreneurs) to 486 ten months that the results are a representation after training. Access to finance of the more than 8,000 young registered a highly positive change of entrepreneurs reached directly so far 64% from Uganda shillings 70 million in Uganda, then it is easy to compute to Uganda shillings 115 million. the contribution of YEF Uganda to
8 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 “Let us acknowledge and celebrate what youth can do to build a safer, more just world. Let us strengthen our efforts to include young people in policies, programmes and decision-making processes that benefit their futures and ours.”
United Nation’s Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon message on International Youth Day, 12 August 2010
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 9 From the Kampala desk The Youth Entrepreneurship Facility Fund component. Partnerships with (YEF) has overall performed well in BDS providers and financial institutions Uganda drawing extensively on the have been consolidated and the “buy-in” from government, social continuous involvement of sponsoring, partners and other stakeholders. The knowledge and implementing partners voluntary National Advisory Committee as a strategy to reach scale and (NAC) that has performed extremely mobilize additional resources has been well in steering the implementation successful. of YEF by providing its continuous guidance and quality support deserves The support from the ILO country office a big applause. Working with, and in Tanzania in general and the entire through the ILO constituents, all YEF regional team to all the three implementing partners and other countries is highly appreciated. All the stakeholders have performed well with ILO projects in the Uganda field office great results, with emphasis by the cannot be forgotten for the continuous facility being on institutional capacity cooperation, collaboration and peer- building and enhancement in addition guidance. The ILO-YEF Kampala team to offering support towards youth is always proud seeing sustainable organizations with a mandate to reach businesses being created by the young out to young entrepreneurs. men and women thus leading to job creation as the struggle continues……. l y The development of tailored strategies to sustain the various programme Robert Mawanda work streams has also been successful YEF National Project Coordinator, Uganda in addition to selecting a local implementing partner for the Y2Y
Youth Entrepreneurship Magazine is a property of the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility, Uganda program.
International Labour Organisation Uganda Office Plot 4, Luthuli Close, Bugolobi Tel: +256 414 223 231 P.O.Box 7184 Kampala, Uganda
Country Office for Tanzania - Kenya - Uganda P.O. Box 9212 Der es Salaam, Tanzania Plot 76/27 & 105/27, Maktaba Street Tel: +255 22 219 6700 / +255 22 212 6627 / +255 22 213 4169 Cover Photo: Two youths that have participated in Email: [email protected] Website: ilo.org the YEF, Uganda program
10 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 Dan makes
from decors. smartDan Ssebanyiiga is a Makerere University graduatecash who has ventured into decoration, a business he started while still at campus, which has turned out to be profitable that he has made it a life-time career.
Dan picked interest in decorations when he used to help arrange and decorate his local church, the Open Door Revival Centre Church in Mpererwe, for no fee. While still at the University in 2011, Dan was lucky that he got an opportunity of taking part in the Start Your Business (SYB) training. From the several training sessions he attended, Dan picked the idea of starting his own business that later gave him self-employment. He trained in business costing, financial planning and other skills that drove him to start his own decoration company he named ‘Skinny Events’.
Since then he has been contracted to work on big wedding parties plus several smaller functions including birthday and graduation parties, introduction ceremonies and extra-curricular eventsin schools. Dan says he has reaped big from this venture, which generated money for him to pay his tuition and pocket money plus daily transport to and from campus. He used the income to buy scholastic materials for himself, becoming self-reliant.
“I learnt business costing among other things, which helped me to start setting realistic price lists for my different products,” he says. He also learnt financial planning, which has been a big ingredient for the success of his business. He has been able to pay fees for his two nephews and is currently training three other youth in decoration, at a fee of shs100,000 for two months.
Dan has been able to continue decorating his Church for no fee in appreciation of the skills he acquired from there when he was originally allowed to offer free service.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 11 I was persuaded by my father to join them before going back to Kampala. I was deeply touched...
passion growing and currently I have 4.5 acres under passion fruit. I have From Street To Self established two other projects (bee keeping and local poultry raring) out of 0.3 acres I started with. I can not go Employement back to streets again as of now; I am my own boss and employing others.
Kasoma Brian Mukasa an ICT I was persuaded by my father to I regret the long time I wasted looking professional and a resident of Maligita join them before going back to for jobs in Kampala as I would be far a remote village in Kangulumira sub- Kampala. I was deeply torched by the as of now. county Kayunga District in Uganda communication of a young person narrates his story from school to date (facilitator) whom I later came to as a youth and how KAYONET’S ILO understand that he was from Kayunga grantee funded project has made him District Youth Network (KAYONET) what he is currently. Below is his story. a local organization that empowers young people in the community. He “Growing up as a youth in a village is very was sensitizing youth on farming challenging as you strive to compete enterprises and business opportunity with your peers in towns with best sporting. education, and to be at school all the time without being sent back home for I stayed in the village for the next Apiary project for Brian; He has 39 hives and school dues. I had a negative attitude one week as I wanted to have more harvests 585 kgs of honey after 6 months and to village setting as we were made knowledge about these issues. I later sells at 14,500shs. per kg to wake up early morning, first go to joined training sessions on how to garden before going to school. I hated generate business ideas, starting this as to me was a big punishment. business among others; I developed Worse still, were the weekends when the idea of passion fruit growing as I we were made to dig from morning to saw them being sold highly while evening. Little did I know of farming I was on the streets of Kampala but I as a profitable, sustainable and good did not know how to grow them. paying self employment job. Because I had a bad attitude to village life, I joined other training sessions mostly Brian examining the flowers of his passions straight away after school in 2006, I on fruit growing and had study visits. went to the streets of Kampala to look I sacrificed the little savings I had for employment opportunities but collected from the sale of my goat and all in vain. I sometimes went to my pigs and I invested them in growing a mother in village when I was Broke to small portion of passion fruit. I could I acquired a loan support me with up keep and some not believe my first harvest after six transport. Because I had my birds months. from Centenary and goats I had left behind, I used to order to sell and solve my problems in From the profits I realized in passion Bank of about 14 Kampala. One day in 2011 as I was in growing, the exposure to many village after selling my goats, a group of opportunities like knowledge and millions Uganda young people came to our home which skills, financial support, market shillings and I later came to know as a youth group information and modern techniques of village young men and women who of growing passion, I acquired a expanded my frequently gathered at our home when loan from Centenary Bank of about having meetings and trainings, my 14 millions Uganda shillings and garden. father offered them our compound as expanded my garden. I have been able their meeting place since he was the to employ my self, employ my fellow chairperson of the village. youth, offering skills to others in
12 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 passion growing and currently I have 4.5 acres under passion fruit. I have established two other projects (bee keeping and local poultry raring) out of 0.3 acres I started with. I can not go back to streets again as of now; I am my own boss and employing others.
I regret the long time I wasted looking for jobs in Kampala as I would be far as of now. Sales and marketing ALERT AGENCY PARTNERSHIP BRINGS HOPE TO GULU COMMUNITIES A number of women sit in circles of small This success has been achieved as a result donors. All these have been achieved in groups, chatting and laughing out as their of the grant support to young women just a spell of one year. busy hands skillfully make final touches empowerment through pine leaves crafting on the beautifully crafted white and black- project, funded by the National Union of dotted glittering vessels. Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU).
Apiary project for Brian; He has 39 hives and These young women of Patiko and Palaro Since 2012 when A4D Uganda entered harvests 585 kgs of honey after 6 months and Sub Counties in Gulu district are part of the into partnership with UNJPP and ILO, it sells at 14,500shs. per kg success story of the partnership between has received support to conduct other the International Labor Organization (ILO) programs, which have created a big impact and the United Nations Joint Program on in communities where they have been Population (UNJPP), implemented by the implemented. Alert Agency for Desired Development (A4D Uganda) These include training in proposal design and writing, project and financial Judging from their beaming faces, one could management and entrepreneurship easily tell that these women are already training to A4D Uganda’s beneficiaries Businesses started e.g. goats rearing smiling into their future. The crafts made through Comboni Samaritans of Gulu. using high skills are attractive and unique Brian examining the flowers of his passions in a way that they are on high demand by The outcomes of this partnership are crafts dealers and single buyers. evident in many tangible results already showing. Through their organization, the Young Women Empowerment Through Pine A4D Uganda staffs who underwent Leaves Crafting (YWETPLC) project, these training in proposal design and writing women have gained high technological have consequently gained high skills and skills in crafting using pine leaves, which capacity in designing and writing fundable they collect and process themselves before proposals, some of which have been making the fine products. successful and given good results. Entrepreneurship training in progress The business venture has in turn improved These include the restoration of the Social their household incomes due to increased Accountability Project in post conflict areas, sales of their products because of the which is funded by the Foundation Open technology used to craft them, which they Society Institute (FOSI) a Swiss charitable acquired through training by A4D Uganda. organization within the Open Society Foundation (OSF) and the Empowering After the training, the women can now Young Disabled Women, which is funded by market their products in different places, NUDIPU, which was also secured as a result to travelers and traders who take them to of good proposal writing. Other proposals Kampala city and other towns where they are still awaiting approval from different are on high demand. donors.
Within just a year the group has already The training has also enabled A4D Uganda created 139 jobs in the area and 119 to manage successfully their funded Craft production in progress businesses for young women. projects without any query from their
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 13 YEF Pictorial l y
14 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 15 BUSINESS TRAINING BRINGS MIRACLES TO THE TORORO RURAL WOMAN
Damalie Alowo, a 29-year mother of three is one of the most enterprising women in Tororo district.
Having got married at the age of 17, Damalie, who dropped out of school due to lack of fees after she lost her father counts herself among the few lucky rural women who have been able to liberate themselves from abject poverty and overcame the lifestyle of entirely looking up to husbands as the sole bread winners.
Damalie’s husband, a local casual laborer in Tororo, five kilometers along Mbale Road had little chances of getting the family out of poverty until luck came her way. Damalie was one day invited to attend a training workshop funded by the International Labor Organization (ILO), “I am now planning to which was organized by Sule Integrated Development Organization. expand my business into a “The training changed my mind set and tailoring training school, did not leave my life the same because it they needed her services. But as time is then that I developed a business idea of went on, and with some experience, she my own. I zeroed on tailoring,” she said. bargained some good deals that fetched I also look forward to getting bigger She resolved in her mind that she would her reasonable profits. tenders from schools, big organizations introduce the business idea to her and companies,” she explains. She decided to save shs5,000 shillings husband but she wasn’t sure about his every week and using her newly acquired reaction. The business venture has greatly changed customer care skills, she attracted the livelihood of this family. The husband To her surprise, Damalie says, her more customers into her business and now does not have to be worried about husband gladly embraced the idea and consequently made more and more the family going hungry whenever he fails consequently raised shs250.000 for her money. to get money for basic needs at home. initial capital. She started this business in 2011 but in Damalie says she is so grateful for ILO and It was this money that Damalie used to only 2 years it has grown tremendously. Sule Integrated for giving her a chance to buy her first sewing machine and within She has now bought three sewing learn how to earn a living. no time she had her own business. machines and can stock all sorts of materials. She also employs two young She advises fellow women to stop sitting However, though she had acquired the women who help her meet the high at home to wait for their husbands to initial training in tailoring she had not yet demand she registers every week from cater for every domestic need including obtained the experience and the art to her ever increasing customers. their personal requirements. attract many customers. Her business has specialized in making She says there are so many simple things She also lacked capital to buy raw and selling “Bitengi” traditional wear and that women can do to earn a living, materials to attract big contracts. She making women’s clothes, though she can including vegetable growing, food selling, accepted to start by mending clothes in still do a variety of men’s outfits. weaving or knitting, bead making and her village as she continually marketed many others that would help them to her business. At times she would walk “I am now planning to expand my fight poverty and overcome the husband to people’s homes asking them if at all business into a tailoring training school, dependency syndrome.
16 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 His head was crowded with business ideas but he couldn’t find money for rent, working capital and the time to attend choose the best. His parents encouraged him to venture to a business outside his home. into business but he feared to start, he could easily access startup capital but he wasn’t sure how to use it. He now Joel generated different business ideas like starting a retail earns millions per week, employs his mother and takes shop, a piggery project, stationery shop and poultry. He care of his own tuition and that of his siblings finally chose to concentrate on poultry.
Joel Wansunde, a 19- year old entrepreneur in Jinja town It was his choice and he confesses that he enjoys it. It gives first attended The Start Your Business (SYB) trainings in him enough time to attend to his books and his mother 2011 and made up his mind to start his own poultry farm. and siblings can help him take care of the birds in case he is away, . “The risks are minimal and the profits are high”. He picked on Kroilers, which are disease resistant and require Joel’s objectives include creating little attention. He has acquired skills in buying the right self employment, finding money quality he wants, looking after the birds at their delicate age and treating them. for school fees and to support his siblings... Joel’s objectives include creating self employment, finding money for school fees and to support his family and siblings. His future dream is to be the main supplier of A student of Karisa Senior Secondary in Mafubira, Jinja chicken to major hotels in Jinja and the neighboring towns. Municipality, Joel comes from a family of nine, which was He now owns 1,450 birds of which 750 are high breed living below the poverty line and he could not therefore imported Kroilers from Kawanda Agricultural Research afford to go to the school of his choice. Institute. He currently supplies to individuals, the people He recalls the efforts his parents put in to push him to who roast chicken by the roadsides every day, his friends attend the SYB training arguing that it was the only way he and neighbors plus a few restaurants. His business has would make a good entrepreneur after the training. two main products – chicken and the manure made out of chicken He says that before the training, his parents had asked him to start a business of his own but he had hesitated because Joel also generates health food, employs his mother and he desired to first open a retail shop though he could not takes care of his own tuition and that of his siblings.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 17 “I learnt many things from the training like customer care, business management and others that have helped to change the way I run my business...” A Milk Cooler brings fortune to Medius’s business Vision
Medius Ntegereize, 29, struggled for some time to make ends meet despite her formal training in catering and hotel management where she had graduated with a Diploma.
She later started a tea room behind Manhattan Hotel in Kabale town where she operated on a small basis.
Life was still hard as income from the tea joint was still low until two years ago when she attended a business skills training organized by the Private Sector Foundation in Kabale town. She learnt several business skills including finance management and customer care.
Though she had now acquired the skills, Medius still lacked capital to start a business of her dream. She however started in a humble way when she acquired a refrigerator with capacity of 150 liters. Medius however still finds a few challenges that include losing a lot of revenue when the milk goes bad due to She would buy milk from a dairy and later sell it to her electricity power cuts. Sometimes she makes loses when customers but the profits were still low. her contracted farmers get accidents as they deliver the Medius however approached her parents who accepted milk from the villages. The lack of her own transport to sell their land and gave her shs17million which she facility is a big bottleneck. used to buy a cooler with a capacity of 600 liters. This has She however credits the knowledge she acquired from the enabled her to start buying milk directly from the farmers training for boosting her business. and selling it to big consumers including supplying hotels. “I learnt many things from the training like customer In addition to the same business she has maintained her care, business management and others that have helped tea room where she continues to sell hot milk to her to change the way I run my business and there is a big customers. Medius says she now sells an average of 300 difference,” she says. liters a day, and employs three female workers and one male.
18 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 ILO GIVES HOPE TO KAYUNGA YOUNG ENTREPRENUERS
The visibility of KAYONET to the public started at this point when a stakeholders’ meeting was called to launch this project. The project attracted many partners right from local government, civil
The Assistant CAO Kayunga District launch- servants, financial institutions and other ing the ILO supported project as the DSDCDO service providers and the community KAYONET Project Manager during a Kayunga and KAYONET Project Manager look on field visit to one of MO’s piggery in 2011 as a whole. This one-year project empowered KAYONET with technical Kayunga District Youth Network (KAYONET) As politicians in Africa continue to promise skills to look for support elsewhere, to is an umbrella organization of youth civil young people heaven on earth for their sustain the interventions of the project society organizations in Kayunga District. political interests, young people remain and the organization. It built trust in the The organization was established in 2006 in a state of misery as promises made community that youth led organizations and registered in 2008 as a community by politicians are not fulfilled. Worse still can deliver positive results to their fellow based organization. are the donations politicians receive from youth given the support they need. development partners which are not put The initiative to form KAYONET, which has into use for the intended purposes. Young KAYONET is currently recognized by the its head office in Kayunga Town Council, people do not rely on any body other than local government and other service arose out of the need to share information planning to come together for a common providers as the only organization in on problems or challenges affecting young cause. Kayunga district that can handle youth people, to build solidarity and coordinate related issues which was not the case all youth associations to become more Despite government efforts to establish before. The ILO-YEF has also strengthened accountable and improve service delivery youth structures from villages, besides KAYONET’s capacity to handle donor to their members. other development programs, youth have funds and build funding history of the almost not benefited anything that can KAYONET aims at spearheading and organization. Many young people have help them develop economically. Lower harmonizing activities of member benefited from the project interventions structures where young people are the organizations to promote accountability both as business owners, employers and majority are not properly functioning as and good service delivery to members. employees. they are not facilitated to reach out to It builds the capacity of member them or even building their capacities. The technical support offered by ILO organizations to ensure that they to KAYONET’s staff has led some to be are empowered to participate in Since 2006, KAYONET’s impact through offered jobs in different international developmental programs to bring positive various interventions to the young people organizations like Techno Serve among change to the youth in the communities. had been too small for any stakeholder others. KAYONET’s visibility internationally In addition, it engages government for to see due to the above concerns. It has been a result of its participation in ILO’s promoting pro-poor policies to uplift the was not until early 2010 when the programs/projects like in the Business standards of the youth. International Labour Organization- Development Services component Youth Entrepreneurship facilitation (YEF) Like most youth led organizations in besides the Y2Y Fund, which has led to intervention from the Youth to Youth (Y2Y) Uganda and Africa as a whole, young creation of additional income and capacity fund competitive grant scheme came into people face so many challenges of strengthening to the identified trainers in play. sustaining themselves and providing the organization. services to their intended target, building The first competitive call for proposals The program has proved a success and trust in the communities they live in or from Y2Y fund from eligible youth led working well for young people, which operate, they lack reasonable financial organizations across the country had should be duplicated by other donor muscle, knowledge and skills to satisfy the KAYONET emerge as one of the finalist organizations if they are to help empower interests and needs of their constituencies. grantees and was awarded a cash grant young people economically. to implement its project targeting rural youth involved in subsistence agriculture.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 19 managed to register the company at national level and opened up a bank account. This was originally less important to me because I didn’t seem to see its importance since my company seemed to be established and stable, small as it was. I also appreciate the exposure to so many young people from different districts of Uganda that I met through ILO interactions; most of them have ILO Skills Training become a valuable part of my success.” Saves Edward’s ICT Enterprise He further added; from eminent closure.
Arua Edward is one of the young However, in 2011 he submitted a proposal enterprising rural-based Information to the International Labor Organization and Computer Technology icons who (ILO) luck came his way on August 29 have taken a brave move to establish his when he was invited for a business plan venture in a rural setting. training which took place at Jokas Hotel Bweyogerere. In 2010, Edward decided to start his own employment by setting up an organization During the first session of training, he named Kibaale Area Rural Information Edward shared experiences with many Network (KARINET) which he set up at young people and professionals invited Kagadi Town Council in Kibaale District. by ILO from the corporate world, including big companies, representatives Edward’s mission was to have an efficient of organizations and banks who gladly “We have so far managed to and effective ICT centre, providing high shared their experiences in business and secure two contracts for 7million quality and timely information services guided the young entrepreneurs with to supply banana suckers. The to rural communities in a sustainable their inspiring presentations. other contract was to supply manner using appropriate means for 90 sweaters to two schools. rural development. He also had good He later emerged as one of the 10 finalists We managed to get the above objectives including providing sustainable of the competition. On 8th November mentioned contracts because ILO/ internet services to the rural community, 2011 he got another opportunity to attend YEF had given us the procedures providing timely market linkages and the final business plan training which took and benefits of registering information services and creating linkages place at Rest Gardens Bweyogerere. and legalizing our businesses, and networking avenues with other companies and organizations.” Edward remembers being stirred up organizations for a wider knowledge by the stunning work of the displayed This young entrepreneur continues to sharing and market connections. entrepreneurs that he saw when the group serve the people of Kibale and Uganda To him, the company was well structured attended the Uganda Manufacturers’ in general at his company base in Kagadi, and designed to provide information Association annual business exhibition at amidst challenges of limited resources services to local farmers, provide the Lugogo showground. for expansion, lack of computers for networking and marketing services for skills development, unreliable power In his application letter to ILO YEF Office the rural communities, provide internet, supply and limited knitting machines. The in Uganda, Edward acknowledged having secretarial, computer training and knitting company also has two knitting machines. gained skills to adjust his business plan to services but to his surprise, it was barely achieve his vision and has consequently The company now employs six full-time breaking even as his customer base was started winning contracts. He stated; workers and though his income varies very low. from month to month, the company Although he tried to bargain some “After the ILO trainings, I was raises enough funds to sustain itself and contracts, it was all to no avail. He always equipped with knowledge and supports Edward achieve his goals and wondered. skills to adjust my business plan objectives. in order to achieve my vision. We
20 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 Adding Value to Mushrooms & Providing a Market for Mushroom Growers Her skills created her company and her company now markets her skills. She trains the youth in mushroom growing, which helped her in creating a wider buys dried mushrooms from her market for her products, thus business trainees and processes the mushrooms growth & expansion. into Mushroom Soups, Mushroom She is currently the Executive Director Porridge and Mushroom Beverages of Youth Empowerment in Enterprise Merabu Manige, a graduate from Development – YEED Ltd; a youth led Makerere University had been running organization specializing in training a trial and error business life to earn a people in mushroom growing and living in the city. She had acquired some providing market for their mushrooms. Mushroom Production Training to Soldiers skills, had the zeal and was determined It is YEED’s strategy to train as many and Their Wives in Masindi UPDF Barracks to penetrate the world of business but people as it can reach and encourage lacked practical business training that them to grow mushrooms and then could help her turn her dream into a follow up with technical advice and cash reality. This was until she heard about for their mushrooms. This keeps many the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility’s shs600.000 in profit per month and motivated to stay in the mushroom about shs7.2million a year. Green Business Plan Competition. industry and at the same time, it helps She joined YEF’s Green Business YEED to access the mushrooms as raw Merabu is grateful for the training Plan Competition in 2011 where she materials for their finished products, contracts she has been offered acquired practical training packages on the “Chillo Mushroom Porridge”, especially by the NAADs in Gomba how to write a viable business plan. She “Chillo Mushroom Soup” and “Chillo District, Lutheran World Federation in returned home sharper than a blade Mushroom Beverages”. Pader District, Kawempe Home Care in Kampala and Masindi UPDF Barracks. and wrote her business plan about Merabu has not only made a fortune mushroom production. She has trained young women, staff from selling mushroom products; she members and beneficiaries of these Merabu was one of the final award was also visited by Sylvia Banda, an organizations and also seized the winners in 2011 but most importantly, established entrepreneur from Zambia opportunity of buying mushrooms from the training and the award gave her a and sister to the former Zambian them. start and her brilliant idea and personal President, Rupiah Bwezani Banda who motivation have kept her going. taught her the different ways of making Merabu has been awarded a number soup from our local vegetables, and of accolades including The Young “The green business plan competition how to make coffee-like beverages Achiever’s Award Uganda 2010, The ILO helped me a lot especially when it came from mushrooms. Rupiah also helped Green Business Completion Award, The to learning how to write a business open up markets for YEED’s products Vocational Skills & Agriculture Award plan,” Merabu explains. She says making in Zambia. As a result, YEED Products 2011, The Leadership and Governance financial projections for her business are slowly capturing a share of the Award of Young Achievers and The and considering its profitability plus international market in Zambia and Uganda National Council of Science and record keeping were the most helpful Japan. Technology (UNSCT) Exhibition Award. lessons she learnt. YEED Ltd currently employs nine young Currently, YEED products can be found Throughout the competition process, people, six of whom are women and in Mega Standard Supermarkets around Merabu was exposed to so many three are young men. Out of the nine, Kampala, Safeway Supermarket in networking opportunities which she four are full time and five part timers. Ntinda and People’s Supermarkets in seized to make her business known, On average this company makes Kyebando and Mpererwe.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 21 Former LRA rebel recruit reaps big from pork and beads selling
Okema William had been captured and He now employs about forcefully recruited into Joseph Kony’s 30 part-timing women Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). He trained that come together and became a fighter for one year but in and change papers into 2007 he was able to escape back to his beautiful beads and whose village. output fetches about 1.500.000.
The following year, 2008, Okema Okema has learnt to diversify and has decided to start up his own business ventured into pork selling in Gulu to avoid idleness and to earn himself a town. He now operates a pork living. He started with bead making but joint where he employs three business was not thriving even though young people that he pays he had acquired some bead making 5.000 per day, making an skills from Uganda Youth Development average of about 150.000 per Centre in Gulu. month.
In 2011, he had the privilege of As an entrepreneur, he gets about participating in the business plan 50.000 in profits every day from training that was held in Bweyogerere at the pork joint business which Jokas Hotel. He upholds that from this translates into shs1.5million per training, he was able to learn important month. business skills like business selection, To this day, William Okema continues record keeping and business finance to serve his war affected community management. through his pork joint and the bead He has improved his venture by changing making project in Gulu town. papers into beautiful beads that now fetche him about shs1.5million on a quarterly basis.
22 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 Robert makes shs 80million from honey business every year
Robert Okodia had a viable business idea but could not reap much from it because he lacked skills and resources to make it work.
In 2012 however, he was selected to participate in the business plan training in Kampala by ILO. It was from this training that he gained skills and knowledge that helped him to take his business idea to another level, which he has since then pursued wholeheartedly.
With these skills, Robert wrote a winning business plan that saw him among the final prize winners of the International Labour Organization’s Green Business Competition.
He also submitted his business plan to Centenary Bank where he was able to acquire a loan that has boosted his business. He has also won many other awards and prizes as a result of his smartness in business.
Robert is currently the director of Aryodi Bee Farm which specializes in honey processing under two brand names; Lango Honey and Daisy’s Honey. The company offers bees wax, candles and honey wine.
Robert currently trains farmers in bee keeping as a business, supplies all bee keeping equipment to keepers and runs a bee keeping training and resource centre. His company, Aryodi Bee Farm is now working with 500 small holders’ farmers as out growers.
His business has grown to the extent that he gets a number of contracts for supply of bee keeping equipment and his company has done training and products supply to Send a Cow Uganda, Plan Uganda, Concerned Parents Association, Christian Communication Centre Lira, NAADS and other five farmers’ groups.
Robert has consequently seized different training opportunities and also featured in several articles in the country and this has helped expand his knowledge base and market his company and its products
Aryodi Bee Farm is so far employing eight workers, three of whom are on full time. Although the monthly incomes vary, this company makes at least shs80million per year.
His company products are sold at the office premises Mr. Okodia show casing some of the awards he has won. at Oyite Ojok Lane - Lira town and in supermarkets in Lira, Gulu and Soroti. Products are also supplied to individuals and companies in Kampala and Nairobi.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 23 He uplifts the lives of rural communities through Solar and Bio Gas production
Caleb Wakhungu had a dream of supporting children, Caleb’s first proposal was submitted to the Australian youth, women and disadvantaged people in the districts government seeking financial support to provide safe and of Mbale, Manafwa and Bududa all located in Eastern clean water to over 10,000 people around Mt. Elgon and Uganda. the second proposal was submitted to Heifer International seeking financial support to build 144 biogas digesters to His mission was to improve the quality of life of the rural people around Mt. Elgon”. people affected by poverty, disasters, conflict and disease by working with individuals, families and communities Mt. Elgon Self-help Community Project is a social to enhance care and support through capacity building, entrepreneurship venture that is concerned about the income generation, self-help groups and using available welfare of the people living around the Mt. Elgon area. The resources in ways that benefit people and the environment. profits earned from the business are always re-invested in order to keep the project running and to prevent the He formed a company, Mt. Elgon Self-help Community erosion of funds. Project, to fulfill his dream. It is located in Bumbo in Manafwa and has offices at Mile Four, along the Mbale - In the last two years (2011 and 2012) the project has been Tororo road. able to raise shs14million in profits. The company has since purchased land for the project on which they are now In 2011, Caleb took part in the Green Business Competition erecting a solar production unit and a home to show case where he benefited from both the trainings and was the power of the sun and biogas which is near completion. selected for the final grants. His organization has since continually benefited from the ILO’s training programs, Amidst chocking bottlenecks like limited funding and follow up and mentorship programs, linkages and difficulty in changing mindsets that Solar can be produced connections for business exposure. locally and even last longer, the company has continued to thrive as it grows bigger and bigger every day. It is “The trainings have helped me to re-organize our business currently employing six full time staff; three of whom are and align it with the demands of our customers and written women and three men, and 15 part-time staff. two successful proposals based on this knowledge,” he explains.
24 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 participation in National Advisory Committee (NAC), FUE has also been a direct beneficiary of the Facility;
• Strengthening lobbying and advocacy work of FUE by enhancing the quality of FUE’s input in national policy discussions such as National Action Plan on employment.
• Three FUE staff underwent a two weeks intensive Training of Trainers ENGINEERING in Mombasa basing on the ILO Start IMPROVING BANK and Improve Your Business Model. ENTREPRENEURSHIP This programme has helped FUE LOAN MANAGEMENT beyond training targeting youth THROUGH THE Together with YEF, Centenary Bank, one by helping FUE to refine its own of Uganda’s most friendly to small and training programme on post regular EDUCATION SYSTEM medium business bankers, has trained employment for retiring staff of NCDC entered into a working relationship 420 youths from 11 districts of Kampala, both member and non member with ILO- YEF in 2010 in which ILO- YEF Nebbi, Kanungu, Lira, Isingiro , Hoima , organisations. provided both financial and technical Kyotera, Mukono, Wobulenzi ,Bugiri support to NCDC to revise the ‘A’ level • Through the programme FUE and Kumi. The trainees categorized the Entrepreneurship Education curriculum participating in the process of training as very interactive, informative which had been introduced in 2000. and helpful for business development. developing a training manual for beneficiaries of the government The support involved developing the The achievements by the bank have programme code named Youth Syllabus, the Learner’s Book 5 and 6, been many including; Increased Venture Capital Fund. Teacher’s Guide and Training Manual. understanding of Centenary bank’s products and services, growing clientele • FUE has also had the opportunity After completing the curriculum materials, and minimized loan arrears because to widen its network through ILO- YEF fully financed the training of 30 participants have a better understanding engaging with other stakeholders Teacher Educators (Trainers of Trainers) of loan management which is among during the course of programme which took place at Colline Hotel Mukono in the topics covered during the training. implementation. This has widened November 2011. the membership potential and By Sharon Nabweteme helped FUE to enhance its visibility. In January, 2012, ILO- YEF supported the training of ‘A’ Level Entrepreneurship Corporate Communications Officer, • YEF has helped FUE to rethink Education teachers to prepare them for Centenary Rural Development Bank its engagement with young rolling out the revised curriculum. entrepreneurs who are either potential employers or already After rolling out the curriculum to all schools employers in their own right. In offering Entrepreneurship Education, this regard, FUE intends to launch it was necessary to establish how the a special category of award called implementation was progressing. Therefore, Young Employer of the Year Award ILO-YEF financed the monitoring of the with support from YEF. FUE also implementation of the curriculum. undertook a study to develop appropriate strategies to increase In March 2013, ILO- YEF supported the its membership among SMEs, a training of 142 UNEB examiners at Namboole category to which most of the young Stadium to make them understand the new entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries format of assessment which had introduced of YEF belong. A labour law guide is a 3rd paper which is practical. This followed already being developed to ensure the training of upcountry teachers who still that young entrepreneurs are not had challenges in teaching and assessing the caught on the wrong side of the law revised curriculum. The training took place as they do business. in June 2013.
The Federation wishes to thank the Africa In July, 2013, ILO- YEF supported the Commission, the Youth Employment workshop for Academic Registrars of Public Network (YEN), and the International Labour universities. This workshop was to forge FEDERATION OF Organization (ILO) and its head office in Dar a way forward regarding the weight of UGANDA EMPLOYERS es Salaam, Tanzania and the offices in Kenya Entrepreneurship Education in University and Uganda for this unique initiative. admissions and the courses to which The Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) Students of Entrepreneurship Education has been at the helm of the implementation By Douglas Opio, Policy and Research could qualify to study in the Universities. of the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility ever Officer, FUE since it was launched. However, aside from By Emorut Okumu John performing the oversight function through Specialist Business Secondary
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 25 YEF TEAM
Director ILO Dar es Salaam ALexio Musindo
Chief Technical Advisor Jealous Chirove
“Seeing young people creating sustainable National Project Cordinator enterprises and (NPC) Robert Mawanda also employing others has been the most fulfilling part of my job”
Robert Mawanda National Programme Officer YEF National Project Fred Baseke Cordinator, Uganda
Finance and Administrative Assistant Justine Kabwechere
Driver Michael Oringa
26 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 Agal Carol Olive Lamunu Belinda SOME OF THE Madira Davidsolf Tendo Edith Kakeeto James Jeremiah Kimbugwe Kasule Ronald Nabulime Joy Rebecca SIYB Masaba Richard Kiggundu Robert Busingye Charity Baase Goran Moses Twesigye Robert Otema Moses Oran Trainers Apegu Julius Opio Richard Ongom Amoding Frida Mary Nakiwala Stella Freeman Mary Saturday Kiwanuka Deborah Bwiiso Timothy Hakim Ssebyala Hamonye Moreen Kisegerwa Agatha Eva Birungi Ngageno Violet Kibirige Kasujja Apollo Umar Kasozi Ahabwe Ramuel Joseph Waiswa Geraldine Misanvu Kamugisha Bandeba Ezra Solomon. E Kayiwa Mugambe Jalia Nansamba Mukisa Raymond Ndagire Alice Idah Zawedde Ansasira Collins Bob .B Barigye Beatrice Kampire Katenderi David Aikiriza Apofia Fiona Charles Tomusange Otim Richard Aciro Beatrice Okeny Zeddy Kwikiriza Bakundana Ismail Wilson Balenzi Farooq Bukenya Mugalu Daniel Mwamula Juma Kyalimpa Paul Santa Joyce Stephen Bukare Owino Gorreti Zavuga Amuriat Asingataba Ayub Kiyemba Eve Allen Musiime Stanley Lakworyero A. Susan Namukasa Annet Sunday Patrick Wanda David Ezekiel Nyero Augustine Ceasar Nanfuka Juliet Alupo Immaculate Olivia Male Senkungu Namuli Aisha Kibande William Cathy Ikiror Mwanje Eddy Nduru Mark Alex Ssekabo Bazibu Joseph Nakimuli Leticia Anthony Kyeyune Rubanza Moses Nicholas Namwanje Veronica Katumba James Ssekikubo Tushabe Modern Tasenga Nelson Simon Katushabe Abias Otim Gerald Opio Jannet Elizabeth. M Kasujja Byaruhanga Geooffrey Ariho Paul Stella Nakiwala Apolot Muhindo Jonan Dona Sava Mwazia Andrew Bukosera Barbra Mabisi Betty Kavuma Winnie Ngobi Yairo Asiku Micah Ssekyanzi Ananias Babirye Annet Katongole Abdunulu Nabbuye Hawah Musulo Fred Chekwel Sam Nakitari Nsubuga Kenneth Katantazi Dorothy Kiryowa Phillip Ayesiga Fidelis Nkumbi Steven Matovu Henrey Balinkwe Gideon Mulya David Suubi Margret Awino Brenda Kyalubulha Stephen Lillian Nakamwa Okello Emmy Zoomlamai The development objective of the Najjemba Maureen Kiiza . B Kenneth Start and Improve Your Business Musinguzi Wilson Wakulira Mathias package is to contribute to economic Oboth Edward Canwat Godfrey growth and creation of more and Ombedra Yose Lalam Pamella better jobs. Its training packages Busingye Lillian Henry Fred Tamale include; Generate Your Business Idea (GYBI), Start Your Business (SYB) and Kajoba Lawrence Nakibuule Amiinah Improve Your Businesss (IYB). Baseke Fred
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FACILITY MAGAZINE, UGANDA 2013 27 Unleashing African Entrepreneurship Unleashing African
International Labour Organisation Uganda Office Plot 4, Luthuli Close, Bugolobi Tel: +256 414 223 231 P.O.Box 7184 Kampala, Uganda