KAMPALA, UGANDA – In a move aimed at empowering the country’s youth, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has invested $250,000 in seed capital for 50 innovative projects led by young Ugandans.
The funding, disbursed through the i-Upshift initiative, was announced at the Youth Social Innovation Summit in Kampala. The program, a collaboration between the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEF Uganda, seeks to foster social innovation and entrepreneurship skills among marginalized adolescents and youth.
“Our future is bright. We are a nation of young people,” said Minister of State for Children and Youth Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, during the summit. “Fighting youth unemployment in the country requires concerted efforts.”
Barugahara commended the Netherlands for its support, noting that the funding would provide more than just financial backing. “These are practical real-world tools (skills). The lives of many youth living in camps will change. The $5,000 is not just financial support; it is not just money; it is confidence,” he said.
Khushbakht Hojiev, representative of UNICEF Uganda, praised the government’s commitment to youth development, saying, “You are a generation unlimited. You will be a contributor to the development of Uganda.”
ILO’s Chief Technical Advisor, Stephen Opio, emphasized the program’s focus on sustainable business ideas. “We are supporting profitable ventures by young people, but can we look at these ideas as business ideas?” Opio asked. “We want to see these ideas become businesses that benefit entire communities.”
The i-Upshift initiative has already reached 2,400 young people, and the funding is expected to further accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. The partnership between the Netherlands, ILO, and UNICEF Uganda demonstrates the power of collaboration in empowering youth and driving economic growth.
