Youth Livelihood Programme not failing - Bigirimana

Pius Bigiramana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has scoffed at critics of the Youth Livelihood Programme—saying the scheme is a success story.

In an exclusive interview with New Vision in his office, Bigirimana said since the programme started, the ministry has so far distributed sh64b to 114,000 youth who have come up with 8900 projects.

 "You have heard in the media from some misguided people saying the programme is not succeeding. That is a lie. That is a lie because I have the facts," he said.

"More than 71 projects have refunded 100%. We have got districts that have refunded 99%--Bushenyi, Nwoya, Zombo, Otuke, Kiruhura, Kisoro, Ntugamo, Kabale, Sheema, I can name them—all these are above 80% on refunding money that is due."

He explained why some people have negative perceptions on the project.

"When you hear people making noise, there are in four categories: The first ones are defaulters, the ones who do not want to be followed. The second is the category of people who think government does not deliver. Those who do not believe in what government is doing, they do it for politics. The third category at those people who have been eating money with those youth, and the fourth are the politicians down there who want projects given to them to reward those who gave them votes"

Bigirimana however admitted that there are some challenges, especially that of over-expectations from the youth

"When the programme was introduced, every youth thought he was going to get money that same day. You cannot get money from everyone at the same time. We are trying to phase, the good thing is when we tell them, they understand," he said.

The Youth Livelihood Programme, a rolling government programme was launched in 2014. The programme targets the poor and unemployed youth in all the districts in the country and is implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.