The youth’s livelihood program

On 1^st June 2014, panelists appeared on Better FM to discuss the youth’s livelihood program. “The president launched the youth livelihood project/ campaign in January 2014 and gave out motor cycles to every District Youths Chairperson to ease their work when reaching out youths at village level. He also gave out money to buy each one of them five liters of fuel every day. Bicycles were also given to every Sub County youths leader to ease their work to villages with an allowance of 10,000/= (ten thousand shillings) per outreach”, said Hon Monday Wilson, the District Youth Councilor, Kamwenge District. The panelist was discussing on ToroDev’s sponsored accountability program called ‘Listeners’ Forum’, a live radio discussion that discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (8:00 – 10:00) pm.

Y.K.Museveni, President of Uganda

Hon Monday went ahead to disclose the incompetence of Kamwenge leaders in lobbying for the youths livelihood program funds. “Kamwenge district has not received any funds from the youths livelihood program and was also not included in the first phase. This was caused by the incompetent leaders who did not bother to lobby for this money. Districts like Kabarole received 460 (four hundred and sixty) million shillings to start the implementation of the scheme, I therefore urge Kamwenge leaders to also borrow a leaf and lobby for their youths”.

The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Ndabitunga Charles, the Chairperson of Bukuuku Forum for Rights and Development in Bukuuku Sub County, Kabarole District and Silva Kamihanda, a local citizen of Kabarole District.

During the program, Mr. Ndabitunga indicated how leaders had not done enough sensitization among the youths about the program. “Guidelines are very clear indicating that youths leaders should move to village level and sensitize the youths about the scheme. However, this has not been done. Even the recent meeting that was held by the Chairperson LC V of Kabarole District Hon Rwabuhinga Richard at the district head quarters to meet all youths from different sub counties left many questions concerning the scheme unanswered. This has created a lot of bias among the youths concerning the program”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kamuhanda indicated the unfavorable terms of the youth’s livelihood program. “Terms of getting the youth’s livelihood money are not favorable.  Requirements include a business proposal, business plan, budget among others which are expensive to get. Even the implementers are selective because leaders have shown interest in the scheme by blocking documents of the qualified youths. The criteria that the district officials are going to use for selecting beneficiaries is not clear, I therefore appeal to the concerned leaders to intervene and save the situation”.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Mukonyezi Wilfred and is supported by NED, SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using radio and social media to improve service delivery and accountability in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.