Nakadama tells Busoga youths not to overlook small businesses
Nakadama said young people can make a greater contribution to the country's economic transformation by using government financing programmes productively to create jobs and increase household incomes.
Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Isanga Nakadama speaks during the launch of the Busoga Young Entrepreneurs Association at Jinja City Hall. (Courtesy)
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Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Isanga Nakadama has urged young entrepreneurs in the Busoga region to stop despising small businesses, saying many successful enterprises began modestly before growing into bigger ventures.
“Do not minimise small beginnings; it's from there that you can move. Use this opportunity to exploit Uganda's resources and growing market by increasing local production and reducing dependence on imported goods,” she said.
Nakadama, who is also the Mayuge District Woman Member of Parliament, said Uganda's large population provides a ready market for locally produced goods and services, but challenged entrepreneurs to acquire skills, innovate and work together in groups to access financing and expand their businesses.
She made the call on August 26, 2026, while launching the Busoga Young Entrepreneurs Association (BYEA) in Jinja City.
Nakadama said young people can make a greater contribution to the country's economic transformation by using government financing programmes productively to create jobs and increase household incomes.
She said the programmes available to young entrepreneurs include the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) and grants for persons with disabilities, among others.
She cautioned young entrepreneurs against accepting less than their approved PDM allocation of sh1m and urged them to report cases of corruption and diversion of funds.
“Everybody is supposed to be given sh1 million for the PDM programme. If you are given less than that, report it because if you don’t, then you as a beneficiary are also taken as corrupt,” she said.
She explained that government funds should be regarded as capital for investment rather than free money, urging beneficiaries to put the funds into productive businesses that can generate income and create employment.
She also cautioned traders and young entrepreneurs against operating outside gazetted areas, warning that they risk enforcement under trade regulations. She said entrepreneurs should follow city guidelines and operate in designated areas to help maintain a clean and orderly city.
“We need to have a clean city. You should follow the guidelines and operate in a conducive environment,” she cautioned.
Juma Ssozi, the Jinja city speaker, called for greater financial support for young people starting businesses, saying access to affordable capital remains a major challenge for emerging entrepreneurs.
He said many young women remain disadvantaged because they are not adequately informed about the requirements and procedures for accessing the funds.
Ssozi urged young entrepreneurs to seek information about available financing opportunities before committing themselves to loans, cautioning them to carefully consider the interest rates and repayment terms of different financial products.
Mariam Nalumasi, the Jinja city deputy mayor, said the entrepreneurs' group was established to boost business and trade in the city by bringing young businesspeople together and creating opportunities for them to grow their enterprises.
She said stronger collaboration among entrepreneurs would help them share ideas, access markets and advocate for better conditions for doing business.
Imuran Yawuka, the coordinator of BYEA, said the group now has 350 registered members from different parts of the Busoga region and has total savings of sh39m.
He asked the Government and financial institutions to strengthen programmes that provide affordable capital, financial literacy and business support to young people, saying investment in enterprise development should translate into increased production, employment and improved household incomes.
In her concluding remarks, Nakadama called for increased savings opportunities to enable young entrepreneurs to access more affordable small loans, saying inadequate capital remains one of the biggest obstacles facing emerging businesses.