Utilise govt funds, procurement opportunities — youth urged
“What is important is to earn income. Not to be employed by someone. As long as you can get capital and employ yourself and employ others as well, you have created a job for yourself and other people,” Byaruhanga said.
Byaruhanga said Government budgets Sh45 billion annually for microfinance support and urged the youth to follow up on the funds available to them. (Credit: Barbra Kabahumuza)
KAMPALA - Senior Presidential Adviser on Political Mobilisation Moses Byaruhanga has urged the youth to take advantage of Government programmes and public procurement opportunities to create jobs and improve their livelihoods.
Byaruhanga said several Government programmes had been established to provide young people with capital, but some youths were not receiving their designated share of the funds.
He said 30% of funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM) had been reserved for the youth, but information available to him indicated that young people were receiving an average of about 20%.
“The 30% is taken by us, the old people. But it is supposed to be for the youth,” Byaruhanga said.
He challenged youth leaders to follow up on Government funds and ensure that young people benefit from programmes intended for them.
Byaruhanga said the youth should focus on creating income and employment rather than relying solely on formal jobs.
“What is important is to earn income. Not to be employed by someone. As long as you can get capital and employ yourself and employ others as well, you have created a job for yourself and other people,” he said.
He said Government had created opportunities for young people through programmes including PDM, the Youth Livelihood Programme and Emyooga.
Byaruhanga also urged the youth to participate in Government procurement, saying affirmative action had been put in place to enable young people to access Government tenders.
He called for increased sensitisation on procurement opportunities to enable young people and their parents to understand how youth can participate in Government business.
“There may not be enough awareness. PPDA needs to carry out more awareness on radios for the youth and their parents to know that my son, my daughter or my children can benefit from this,” he said.
Byaruhanga further urged youth leaders to monitor the implementation of Government programmes, including education initiatives.
He said youth could monitor schools to establish whether the number of pupils declared by headteachers corresponds with the actual number of learners.
Byaruhanga said Universal Primary Education (UPE), introduced in 1997, was intended to enable children from poor families to access education and compete with children from other backgrounds.
He also urged youth groups and savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOs) to organise themselves and meet the requirements for accessing Government financing.
Meanwhile, Ronald Tumuhairwe, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) manager for Local Content, said public procurement provided business opportunities for young people engaged in lawful enterprises.
Tumuhairwe said the PPDA had issued Reservation Schemes Guidelines to promote the participation of youth and other marginalised Ugandans in public procurement.
He said the guidelines, issued in 2024, require Government entities to reserve at least 15% of their annual procurement budgets for enterprises owned by youth and other marginalised groups.
During the 2025/26 financial year, Tumuhairwe said 4,124 contracts worth Sh84.03 billion were awarded to enterprises owned by youth, women and persons with disabilities across various Government entities.
Of these, 2,847 contracts were awarded to youth-owned enterprises, including companies, associations, community-based organisations and other legally established youth outfits.
Tumuhairwe, however, said the performance remained below the 15% reservation requirement, adding that the PPDA was focusing on improving implementation of the schemes and ensuring compliance by procuring and disposing entities.
Byaruhanga said several Government programmes had been established to provide young people with capital, but some youths were not receiving their designated share of the funds. (Credit: Barbra Kabahumuza)
Under the reservation schemes, procurements valued at Sh30 million or less in central Government entities are reserved for youth and other marginalised Ugandans.
In local governments, procurements valued at Sh10 million or less are similarly reserved for the targeted groups.
Tumuhairwe said youth entrepreneurs participating under the reservation schemes are not required to pay bid security or bidding fees to obtain bidding documents and participate in the procurement process.
He said the measures were intended to remove some of the barriers that prevent young people from participating in public procurement.
The PPDA has also simplified bidding documents and established an advisory unit to provide free tendering advice to youth entrepreneurs on how to participate in procurement and prepare responsive bids.
Tumuhairwe said the Authority was also focusing on supporting youth entrepreneurs to access financing and formalise their businesses.
He said the PPDA was encouraging joint ventures between large and experienced contractors and youth enterprises to promote youth human capital development, technology and innovation.
Tumuhairwe also called for increased awareness among Government entities about their role in creating social value through implementation of the reservation schemes.
“The Authority is rigorously monitoring the implementation of entity procurement plans and contracts awarded on a quarterly and annual basis,” Tumuhairwe said.
Tumuhairwe said the PPDA would continue working with Government officials, political leaders and youth cadres to improve the participation of young people in public procurement.
Meanwhile, Mworozi Bamwine, who represented the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke, urged the youth to participate in the fight against corruption.
Bamwine said Government institutions alone could not fight corruption and called on young people to report corruption wherever they encounter it.
“Corruption cannot be fought by one person or one entity. Corruption is everyone's responsibility,” Bamwine said.
He said Uganda has several institutions mandated to fight corruption, including the Inspectorate of Government and the police, but their efforts require the participation of citizens.
“We want you to come and report corruption,” he said.
Bamwine urged young people to promote accountability in their communities and work with Government institutions to address corruption.
The officials were speaking on Friday, September 18, 2026, during the official launch of the National Youth Cadres Association Strategic Plan for the 2026/27 financial year at Nakasero Primary School Grounds.
The association's chairperson, Ahumuza Penkson, said the organisation brings together current and former youth leaders, guild leaders from universities and other institutions of higher learning, children of NRA soldiers and members of various pressure groups.
Ahumuza said the association was established in 2016 and focuses on leadership development, environmental conservation, wealth-creation sensitisation, anti-corruption and HIV/AIDS awareness, as well as civic education.
He said the new strategic plan would focus on environmental conservation, youth wealth creation and employment, youth leadership and participation, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, institutional capacity and partnerships, and monitoring, evaluation and accountability.
Ahumuza said the association had established a SACCO at Makerere University, launched a 27-million-tree planting campaign and linked some of its members to employment opportunities.
He said the association faced challenges including high transportation costs, inadequate office space and a shortage of tree seedlings.
Ahumuza called on Government institutions, the private sector, international organisations and development partners to support the association's activities aimed at empowering young people.
Tumuhairwe commended the association for its work in environmental conservation, climate change mitigation, HIV/AIDS awareness, wealth creation, anti-corruption sensitisation and leadership development.