Museveni boosts Kalerwe youth SACCO operations

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni has donated shillings 10 million to support a group of 150 youths under the Kalerwe Boxing Club (KBC) Savings and Credit Co-operative Organisation (SACCO).

The donation is part of ongoing efforts to empower young people economically and promote positive community engagement.

The funds delivered through the State House team, led by Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Mobilisation, Moses Byaruhanga, were handed over during a community visit to the gym located at Muwonge Towers in Kalerwe, a suburb of Kampala.

The president also facilitated the delivery of gym equipment worth shillings 38 million to the same group, in response to a request made earlier by the club’s leadership.

“The leaders of Kalerwe Boxing Club came to see me some time back through Hajat Madina Nsereko. They needed equipment which they could not afford,” Byaruhanga told New Vision Online.

During the engagement, Byaruhanga also revealed that President Museveni had approved an additional shillings 10 million as seed capital for the youth involved in the SACCO. (PPU Photos)

“Their initial estimate was shillings 22 million, but after our market survey, we found the cost to be shillings 38 million. I asked the President to intervene, and he authorised the purchase.”

He explained that although the group had already been training, they were using outdated equipment, and the income they earned from gym-goers was insufficient to upgrade their facility.

During the engagement, Byaruhanga also revealed that President Museveni had approved an additional shillings 10 million as seed capital for the youth involved in the SACCO.

“Many of them are engaged in small businesses, and they need social capital to grow. We will monitor how they perform with the initial funds and consider increasing the support,” he said.

The event attracted over 160 youths from Kalerwe and surrounding areas, including Mulago, Makerere, and Kawempe.

Local leader and aspiring councillor Noah Mukwaya applauded the initiative. “We are grateful to the President and State House for the 10 million shillings. As Kalerwe Boxing Club, we are committed to guiding the youth and helping them use this support meaningfully,” he said.

Byaruhanga emphasised that this support is part of a wider presidential initiative targeting urban youth across Kampala. “Each of Kampala’s nine constituencies has a ghetto youth SACCO supported with sh100 million from the President. But this group stood out because they formed their exclusive club,” he said.

He further noted that the President had pledged an additional sh100 million for Kawempe’s youth businesses, which is expected to be disbursed within July.

The donation comes amid growing concern about youth unemployment and vulnerability to crime. “We want to help them become economically active so they don’t get tempted by crime,” Byaruhanga stressed.

He also criticised opposition leaders for failing to raise pressing issues affecting the youth, accusing them of focusing on political campaigns instead of service delivery.

Hajat Madina Nsereko, a local politician who initially linked the boxing club to State House, thanked the President for his continued support.

“A week ago, we were at Lufula (abattoir) in the Kalerwe market, where meat vendors also received support. The President has shown that he hasn’t forgotten Kawempe,” she said.

She further praised government efforts such as the construction of 120 public toilets around Kalerwe, which have improved sanitation in the area.

Ismail Seguya, the gym’s manager and a celebrated kickboxer, welcomed the donation.

He noted that other boxing clubs in Kampala, such as Katwe, Tiger, and Kampala Boxing Clubs, would also benefit indirectly through shared access to equipment and mentorship.

The donation is expected to boost the morale and livelihoods of Kalerwe’s youth, offering them renewed hope and a platform to thrive through sports and enterprise.