Youth want their funds out of line ministries

PIC: Youth MP western region Mwine Mpaka seeks leave to research on the Uganda Development Bank amendment Bill during plenary on March 29, 2018. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

LEGISLATURE

KAMPALA - The youth want the Uganda Development Bank Act amended to allow the bank manage the youth fund, Youth MP for western region Mwine Mpaka has said.

Mwine cited corruption in ministries and local governments, where the money is currently managed, as a bottleneck denying the youth the opportunity to realise the benefits from their funds.
 
To prepare Uganda Development Bank amendment Bill, Parliament granted Mpaka leave to research on the subject.
 
“Money meant for the youth under the Youth Livelihood Programme, Capital Venture Fund and Skilling Uganda needs to be removed from ministries and local government because corruption there is rampant,” Mpaka said.

During plenary, Mpaka said the youth want to move from commercialised financing to development funding because they can recoup money since development banks offer guidance, and technical support.

National Youth MP Ann Adeke supported the motion saying there is need to organise the money so that the youth make the best of it. This was on March 29, 2018. (Credit:Maria Wamala)

He said the challenge that the youth have is they venture in businesses they do not have expertise in and lack guidance over thime. This he said, results in mismanaging funds and making losses, yet the borrowed money needs to be refunded.

National Youth MP Ann Adeke seconded the motion, saying there were many youth funds provided by the Government, but have not benefited the youth.

“This money is scattered and the systems through which it passes has leakages. The youth have reported that technocrats in the system have been fleecing them of money. We need to organise this money so that the youth make the best out of it,” Adeke said.

State minister for youth Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi proposed an amendment in the Uganda Development Bank amendment Bill, saying it should be done hand-in-hand with the gender ministry because they reviewed the youth funds, March 29, 2018.
(Credit: Maria Wamala)

However, state minister for youth Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi said Mpaka should work hand-in-hand with the gender ministry of gender on the issue since the procedures were reviewed.

Mpaka responded by saying the people who did the review did not involve, youth, arguing the youth know their problems better.


“The review was done by the mayors, resident district commissioners and chief administrative officers. How can you review youth programmes without the youth?” Mpaka asked.

On her part, Syda Bumba, the chairperson for national economy committee of Parliament, questioned the ability of UDB in exercising the mandate on grounds that it is not accessible by many youth upcountry.