Youth want govt to relax conditions for youth fund
Apr 14, 2012
THE Forum for Democratic Change party youth league members have called on Government to revise the stringent conditions that were set for the youth to access the sh25b youth fund.
By Jeff Andrew Lule
THE Forum for Democratic Change party youth league members have called on Government to revise the stringent conditions that were set for the youth to access the sh25b youth fund.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi on Thursday, the youth chairman, Innocent Ayo said the conditions were another block to the intended beneficiaries from accessing the fund.
“We thank Government for its efforts to support the youth but the conditions have become a problem. We have received many complaints from our colleagues who attempted to secure the fund to boost their already existing businesses,” he said.
Ayo said many youths who have never gone to school want to access the fund but cannot because they lack the required qualifications.
He said such conditions like entrepreneurship and O’ level certificates are discriminatory since many youths are not educated in rural areas.
Ayo added that the interest rate should be scrapped since the beneficiaries would be contributing to the economic development through paying taxes and creating employment.
He said the age bracket also needs to be revised to between 18 and 35.
The minister of finance, Maria Kiwanuka said government was already working to soften the conditions to enable the intended beneficiaries access the fund.
Appearing before the Parliament committee on gender, labour and social development recently, Kiwanuka said they had already scrapped off a condition of O’ level certificate and had also revised the age bracket of beneficiaries from 25 to between 18 and 35.
Ayo proposed that government should also establish or identify SACCOS in rural areas where money can be channeled for easy access.
The youth also appealed to government to release their colleagues who were arrested in the recent Walk to Work demonstrations and other incidences unconditionally within 48hrs.
Ayo said they are determined to carry out a massive mobilisation on April 16, to express their dissatisfaction and demand for the release at various Police Stations country wide