Ugandan youth under the "Ebizibu Bugagga" project have been urged to look at social problems and challenges as opportunities for investment.

Attending the stakeholders' engagement breakfast at Hotel Africana on March 31, Richard Sebamala, the Bukoto Central Member of Parliament said the youth have put more focus on following petty issues that are trending on social media, forgetting the major issues that directly affect them and their communities.

A panel of discussants

"All you hear them say is "tebalina kyebatugamba" and "tetwagala kumanya" loosely translated to "they don't have what to tell us" and "we don't want to know". They focus on petty stories like the mabaati saga and forget the real social problems affecting them," Sebamala said.

He added that as much as the government has tried to put up different avenues to develop the youth, many of them do not turn up for them. He urged them to pick up the opportunities put up by government initiatives.

"There is too much money that the government has always released to develop the youth but most of them do not turn up for them. Do you remember the Parish Development Model, Emyoga, and several other projects? Many youths did not embrace them and much of the money was returned," he said.

"If they do not use this money, it is sent to other departments and used to do several other things. It is therefore key that they should find ways to tap on it," he added.

In line with the Ebizibu bugagga project, Sebamala urged the youth to take a keen eye on different social problems in their communities and turn them into opportunities that could develop them and their societies. He tasked Aye Africa Foundation (AAF), an organisation under which the project runs, to reach all youths in the country by preaching the gospel of Social business.

Dancers entertain guests

Daniel Ayebare, the project manager at Aye Africa Foundation, promised to carry the cross as tasked by Hon. Sebamala. 
Ayebare told The New Vision that the project was aimed at bringing the youth together and opening their eyes to possible business opportunities and ventures amidst social adversities, and creating businesses that add value to their communities.

“It widens the minds of the youth and cuts the fine balance between the traditional businesses which are majorly profit-oriented and not-for-profit businesses which are impact related. It focuses on solving a social challenge but with a business model,” Ayebare explained.

The Ebizibu Bugagga project was made up of seminars, training, and competitions for the youth.

Youth competitions for learning institutions were held in February and March 2023 across four major regions of the country and financial tokens were given to winners to kickstart their business ideas.

The event was graced by Brenda Nakaziba from the secretariate of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Harriet Kamashanyu of One Young World, Ronald Mukisa, the director at Enterprise Uganda, and several other delegates from Government and Non-Government Organisations.