Museveni backs Sh200b job creation programme

President Yoweri Museveni has supported the push by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to increase government funding to the tune of sh280b in critical programmes, meant to lift vulnerable women and youth out of the clutches of poverty.

Kadaga, over the weekend, said the Government should provide sh50b for the Green Jobs Programme, sh30b for the National Apprenticeship and Graduate Volunteer Scheme, sh30b for the Uganda Green Incubation Project (UGIP), sh100b for Jobs for Urban Youth (JOY), sh20b for Access for Labour Justice and sh50b for improving labour productivity.

Direct impact She said: "As the finance minister, in the next financial year, you should consider adding more money into these initiatives because they have a direct impact in our struggle to fight poverty, especially within the core of our society. These programmes give women and youth employment opportunities because the nature of jobs created is ecofriendly."

The remarks were made during a handover ceremony of modern business start-up tool kits to over 3,000 youth and women organised in 190 groups in Busoga sub-region.

The Green Jobs Programme is the Government's strategic plan to create jobs, by reducing negative environmental impacts and promoting safety and health at work.

This will ultimately lead to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies.

The Improving Labour Productivity and Competitiveness Project seeks to establish a National Productivity Centre which will co-ordinate and spearhead productivity, measurement, research and dissemination. The Uganda National Apprenticeship and Graduate Volunteer Scheme aims at leveraging volunteerism as an essential mechanism for young people's skills development.

Green jobs UGIP (Songhai model) emphasizes production of more with less, zero waste, creation of green jobs, inclusive economy and self-reliance; while the JOY project seeks to increase employment and productivity of urban youth.

Museveni, who was the chief guest at the event, said the call to inject money into women and youth groups, rather than raising salaries for selected civil and public servants, will increase social productivity and eradicate poverty in the populace. "I thank Ugandans for remembering the things that make money and getting out of sleep.

Everyone now has an urge to be involved in making money, which is good. I am happy that the Speaker is saying that we add money into these projects of eradicating poverty.

Previously, some leaders were saying that we put money into salaries and other things, but we are now saying the money should be put into infrastructure and projects to eradicate poverty, " he said.

Museveni handed over tailoring equipment to 79 groups, beauty salon equipment to 52 groups, ovens to 18 groups, desktop computers to nine groups, jet car washing machines to eight groups, animal feeds processing machines to nine groups and hand drilling machines to eight groups.

Hands-on skills He called for hands-on skilling of young people and women to enable them engage in mechanical, metal fabrication and welding; woodwork and carpentry; art, design, leatherworking, textiles and tailoring, plumbing and construction, agro-processing, information, communication and technology; motor vehicle assembling, maintenance and repairs; cosmetology and creative arts.

The state minister for youth and children, Florence Nakiwala, said the groups that benefitted from the second cohort directly employ over 5,000 people and the support that was provided will "increase the productivity and profitability of these businesses, increase business growth and contribute to employment creation".

Giving business start-up kits to Jua Kali (artisanal) groups is a critical government effort to support youth and women through the provision of green technologies, training, certification and accreditation.

Emyooga

Besides the Youth Livelihood Programme, Youth Capital Venture Fund and Women's Fund, Museveni, last year, rooted for the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (emyooga).

Targeting sector-specific associations, in the 2020/21 budget, the Government provided sh256b to the emyooga project under the finance ministry.

The commissioner labour, productivity and industrial relations, Alex Asiimwe, said with the sh280b additional funding for the green jobs programme, the Government under the component of support to the informal sector, will be able to give business start-up kits and equipment to 1,000,000 Jua Kali (artisanal) businesses, including youth, women and persons with disabilities.

In 2018, the green jobs programme rolled out the first cohort of beneficiaries where 87 groups were drawn from Kampala and Wakiso.

To boost the informal sector, the Government, through the Green Jobs Programme under the gender ministry, plans to establish industrial business shelters with common-user facilities.

Asiimwe said the handover of business start-up tool kits to Jua Kali groups is a critical effort by the Government to support youth and women, through the provision of green technologies, training, certification and accreditation.