Nobel peace prize nominee asks private sector to create jobs
Ugandan Nobel peace prize nominee, Victor Ocheng, has called on the private sector to get involved in enterprise development in war affected communities of Uganda, as a tool for fostering sustainable peace and development.
By Edward Kayiwa
Ugandan Nobel peace prize nominee, Victor Ocheng, has called on the private sector to get involved in enterprise development in war affected communities of Uganda, as a tool for fostering sustainable peace and development.
Ocheng said, while several civil society organisations are championing the development of enterprise in the war affected regions, more effort is still needed, especially from the private sector, in bringing about lasting peace.
“We need the private sector’s involvement in exploring and exploiting opportunities for business, skilling and creating jobs for these people because too much was destroyed during the war. The northern region’s fertile land and trade links to neighboring Kenya and South Sudan, for example, make it ideal for commercial agriculture, while the abundant local wildlife could also attract tourism. Unfortunately, the private sector’s involvement in this area has so far been very inadequate,” he said
He said approximately 75% of the people in war affected communities are youth, with more than 46% of the population living in poverty.
“Majority of these people lack the required skills to survive in business or find formal employment. However, using enterprise can be a powerful tool for bringing about lasting freedom, and must be engaged even by the private sector. Government has done its part in ending the wars, but the private sector has not sufficiently played its role. Deliberate effort must therefore be made in equipping war victims with entrepreneurial skills to keep their minds busy and engaged,” he said.
He was speaking recently on the sidelines of the launch of Africa Elevation, a nonprofit organisation seeking to promote young African entrepreneurs on a global platform.
The organisation intends to help in connecting youth founded enterprises in Africa with organisations around the world to create market for their products and services.
Ocheng said helping the youth grow their own enterprises will ensure that they don’t return to war or join criminal gangs to destabilize the peace that is currently being enjoyed.
He said increasing cases are being reported to the police in Gulu, of former LRA abductees who are involved in drug abuse and robbery.
“In an attempt to find a quick way out of poverty, some youth have joined criminal gangs because there is nothing else to do for economic gain. The robbery groups seem small but they can grow into a serious problem for the entire region if not attended to. ,” he said.
The Northern and Eastern parts of Uganda suffered at the hands rebel outfit, the Lord’s Resistance Army, for more than twenty years, leaving more than 400,000 people homeless.
Ocheng said the communities should now be helped to fight poverty, and bring social services closer to the people, to help them forget the scourge of war which left them with many scars.
According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) rural poverty report 2014, about 27 % of all rural people in Uganda still live below the national rural poverty line.
The report also indicates the poorest areas of the country are in the north, where poverty incidence is consistently above 40 %.
It also says the incidence of poverty exceeds 60 % in many districts where outbreaks of civil strife have disrupted farmers' lives and agricultural production.
Nelisiwe Matte, Africa Elevation’s chief executive said efforts should be geared at ensuring the youth establish small businesses and acquire property to become self-reliant
She said the private sector ought to partner with civil society organisations to help aspiring entrepreneurs build vibrant local businesses in order to break the cycle of poverty.
“We should give an opportunity to entrepreneurial young people engaged in innovative solutions, technology and startups to overcome poverty in ways that will bring about sustainable development,” she said.
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