Youth MPs want UIA to direct investors in production sectors

Members of Parliament representing youth have asked the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to direct investors coming into the country in agriculture production and value addition so as to create employment for the growing number of youth.

The call was made by Western Youth MP Mwine Mpaka who was flanked by the Northern Youth MP, Omony Oscar Otema recently.

"If an investor came into the country, he should be interested for example in dairy production by telling him opportunities, availability of raw materials, attractive prices so that they can invest in diary production," said Mpaka.

He said production has many segments which are likely to create employment for the youth along the segment unlike real-estate which is easily taken up by investors and doesn't offer much to the youth in terms of employment.

This year's international youth day will be celebrated in Koboko district under the Theme the Road to 2013: Eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable production and consumption".

According to Mwine, some of the programs that were put in place to help youth get out of poverty are not helping much hence the need for UIA to come in and benchmark investors.

He said information he got from the youth in Kasese is that they have failed to benefit from the fund because they were told that the business of selling solar panels couldn't be funded.

However the spokesman from the ministry of gender labor and social development Frank Mugabi clarified and said that they fund all youth projects as long as they are able to generate income and someone can pay back the money.

The maximum period for paying back is 3 years but if a group can pay up to 90% of the total amount that was received as a loan, they don't pay interest. They can only pay interest on the remaining balance of 5% per anum until the whole balance is cleared, Mugabi explained.

The youth also want government to establish embassies in all countries in the Middle East where Ugandans go for employment. This will help girls being mistreated to get help when they get chance of escaping from their tormentors.

At the moment we have one embassy   taking care of all the seven Middle East countries, that is why when our girls get problems, it is hard to find help," Mpaka added.